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If you've spent any time reading through Korean government grant announcements, you've probably come across the term New Industry (신산업). It shows up frequently in eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and program descriptions, but what does it actually mean, and why does it matter?
New Industry (신산업) is the Korean government's official label for a set of technology-driven industries it has designated as national strategic priorities. Companies operating in these sectors are classified as New Industry Companies (신산업 기업) and are often given preferential access to certain grant programs, faster loan evaluations, and higher funding ceilings.
It's not a certification or a legal status in the way that Venture Company Certification (벤처기업확인) is. It's more of an industry classification, a way the government draws a line around the sectors it wants to grow most aggressively, and then directs resources accordingly.
The New Industry (신산업) framework is set by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부) and has evolved over time as national priorities have shifted.
The clearest public-facing expression of this framework is the Super Gap Startup Project (초격차 스타트업 프로젝트), the Ministry's flagship program for deep tech startups. Since its launch in 2023, the program has supported deep tech startups across 10 new industry sectors. Starting in 2026, the classification has been expanded and restructured into a "6 Strategic Industries — 12 New Industries (6대 전략산업 - 12대 신산업)" framework, reflecting the current government's economic priorities.
As of 2026, the 12 new industries are organized across six strategic clusters:
In plain terms, the sectors are:
Whether your company falls within a New Industry (신산업) sector has real practical consequences when applying for government support.
Many grant programs explicitly prioritize or reserve spots for New Industry companies. The Super Gap Startup Project (초격차 스타트업 프로젝트), for example, is open only to startups operating within these 12 sectors. Companies with core technologies and growth potential in New Industry sectors are selected and supported for up to three years with commercialization funding and scale-up support.
Beyond eligibility, the classification also affects funding amounts and evaluation scoring. Programs that don't exclusively target New Industry companies may still award bonus points or higher allocations to applicants in these sectors.
Your industry classification in Korea is tied to your Business Registration Code (업종코드), which is assigned when you register with the National Tax Service (국세청). The New Industry framework maps to specific industry codes, so whether you're officially classified as a New Industry company depends in part on what's listed on your Business Registration Certificate (사업자등록증).
If you're building in AI, biotech, robotics, clean energy, or any of the other sectors listed above, there's a reasonable chance your company falls within scope. But it's worth verifying against the specific program's eligibility criteria before assuming, since definitions can vary slightly between programs.
The New Industry framework reflects a broader shift in how Korea thinks about its startup ecosystem. Rather than spreading support evenly across all industries, the government is increasingly concentrating resources on sectors with strategic national value, the kinds of technologies where Korea wants to hold a competitive edge globally.
For foreign founders building in these spaces, that's actually good news. It means there's a larger and more organized pool of support available, and that the government is actively invested in seeing companies in these sectors succeed.
Janie Baek
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