Seunghwan Mok, CEO of Seoul National University Holdings, Appointed as Director of Startup Venture Innovation Bureau at Ministry of SMEs and Startups

The Right Person to Lead the “Startup for All” Initiative,
with Expertise in Investment and Technology Commercialization

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on May 15 that it will appoint Seunghwan Mok, CEO of Seoul National University Holdings, as Director of the Startup Venture Innovation Bureau, effective May 18.

Seunghwan Mok, Director of the Startup and Venture Innovation Office at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

Director Seunghwan Mok is known as a “technology startup expert” who has connected research achievements at universities to successful businesses, effectively bridging technology and the field during his leadership at Seoul National University Holdings. He is considered the right person to successfully promote the core policy initiatives of the current administration, including the “Great Transition to a National Startup Era” and the “Startup for All Project,” which aims to provide everyone with the opportunity to take on new challenges.

Previously, Director Mok, as a private sector investment professional, discovered startups based on university research lab technologies and laid the foundation for their growth into unicorn companies. Having experience in both venture capital (VC) and accelerator fields, he possesses a deep understanding of the investment ecosystem, which is expected to enable him to design demand-driven (company-centered) policies.

With the appointment of Director Mok, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to accelerate the creation of a “startup for all” ecosystem where everyone in the nation can freely pursue innovation. The ministry aims to address policy blind spots so that all stakeholders—including those in the Seoul metropolitan area, regional areas, youth, and middle-aged groups—can become key players in startups. The ministry also plans to advance support systems to expand the domestic startup base into overseas markets, enabling venture companies to enhance their competitiveness on the global stage.

A Ministry official stated, “Based on Director Seunghwan Mok’s expertise in startups and ventures, core policies such as fostering deep-tech startups and advancing Korea into one of the world’s top four venture powerhouses will gain stronger momentum on the ground.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.