Lee Tells Silicon Valley VCs Korea, US Can Build the Next Samsung Together
Summary
- President Lee Jae-myung met with global venture capital (VC) investors in Silicon Valley and said combining the strengths of Korea and the US could create the next generation of global innovation companies.
- Lee said the two countries could become innovation partners if Korean startups gain access to US capital and markets, while US investors and innovative companies connect with Korea's technology, manufacturing and talent ecosystem.
- The event also included the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the participating venture capital firms and the National Pension Service.
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President Lee Jae-myung met with global venture capital investors in Silicon Valley on July 25 and said Korea and the US could combine their strengths to create the next Samsung, Hyundai, SK, Naver and other new global innovation leaders.
Speaking at the Silicon Valley Venture Investment Meetup in San Francisco, Lee said the US has world-leading venture investment capabilities and global networks, while Korea offers strong technology, manufacturing competitiveness and a dynamic startup ecosystem.
He said Korean startups gaining access to US capital and markets, alongside US investors and innovative companies linking with Korea's technology, manufacturing and talent ecosystem, would position the two countries as innovation partners for the next 30 years. He added that Korea and the US should broaden cooperation beyond their long-standing security alliance into a technology, innovation and startup alliance.
Attendees included Khosla Ventures founder Vinod Khosla, Lightspeed Venture Partners co-founder Barry Eggers, New Enterprise Associates Co-Chief Executive Officer Tony Florence, Sequoia Capital partner Alfred Lin, General Catalyst Managing Director Hemant Taneja and Andreessen Horowitz General Partner Martin Casado. The event also included the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the participating venture capital firms and the National Pension Service.
Han Jae-young, San Francisco, Hankyung.com, jyhan@hankyung.com
Korea Economic Daily
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