Korean Dictionary
How to say "Startup" in Korean
“Startup” in Korean is 스타트업 (pronounced "seutateup").
스타트업
seutateup
Usage & Context
A newly established business venture. Startups in Korea are growing rapidly with government support. They often focus on innovation and technology.
Example Sentence
스타트업에서 일하고 있습니다.
I work at a startup.
How to use 스타트업 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Startup” is 스타트업, romanized as seutateup.
Usage tip
Business Korean usually needs polite or formal endings, especially in emails, meetings, and customer situations.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 스타트업.
Pronunciation Guide
"스타트업" is a direct transliteration pronounced "Seu-ta-teu-eop." "Seu" is like "soo" but with a very light 's' and a short 'eu' sound (like the 'u' in "but"). "Ta" is like "tah" in "taco." "Teu" is similar to "seu" but with a 't'. "Eop" is like "up" in English. The 'eu' sounds are very short and subtle.
More Example Sentences
Discussing a current career trend among the youth.
요즘 젊은이들 사이에서 스타트업 창업이 인기예요.
Starting a startup is popular among young people these days.
Sharing a success story of a company's growth.
우리 회사는 작은 스타트업으로 시작해서 지금은 대기업이 되었어요.
Our company started as a small startup and is now a large corporation.
Highlighting a promising new company.
그 스타트업은 혁신적인 기술로 주목받고 있어요.
That startup is gaining attention for its innovative technology.
Cultural Context
South Korea has a vibrant "스타트업" ecosystem, heavily supported by government initiatives like TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup Korea) and various accelerators. It's a popular career path for young, ambitious Koreans, often seen as an alternative to traditional corporate jobs (대기업). Many K-dramas, like the popular series "Start-Up," have popularized the term and the challenges/rewards of this sector, making it a familiar concept in daily life.
Editorial note
We review business terms like 스타트업 for formality, so the example fits emails, meetings, or workplace conversations instead of casual speech.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
스타트업 생태계
Startup ecosystem
스타트업 투자
Startup investment
스타트업 창업
Startup founding
Related Expressions
창업
changeop
Founding a business/Startup (as an act)
벤처 기업
bencheo gieop
Venture company (similar to startup)
중소기업
jungso gieop
Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)
혁신 기업
hyeoksin gieop
Innovative company
More Business Words
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