Daytime Startup Talks, Nighttime K-Pop Craze Electrify 10,000 New Yorkers

‘KOOM Festival’, which heated up the nights of Brooklyn, New York, concluded its grand run from the 16th to the 18th, attracting 10,000 people. Hosted by the United Korean Founders (UKF), this festival left a deep impression as the largest Korean startup festival in the U.S., weaving together the innovation of K-startups and the charm of K-culture. During the day, entrepreneurs presented their visions and investment pitches, envisioning the future, while at night, a fervent K-Pop concert made New York's heart pound, proving the astonishing synergy of culture and technology. On stage, the wisdom of masters unfolded. Oh-Hyun Kwon, former Chairman of Samsung Electronics, emphasized 'listening' as a virtue of a leader, stressing the importance of reflecting members' opinions. Bong-Jin Kim, founder of Woowa Brothers, shared the wisdom of turning life's 'stumbling blocks into stepping stones,' citing customer-centric business and an entrepreneur's storytelling ability as keys to success. Tae-Ho Kim, COO of HYBE, emphasized that K-culture must now 'take root' as part of local culture, beyond mere export, urging its evolution into a global culture builder. Jung-Hoon Song, CEO of Utah Cupbop and a pioneer in the globalization of Korean food, presented a strategic insight: branding 'Korea' itself, beyond just 'K-Food'. Over 120 brand booths, including Cosmax, Nongshim, and Naver Webtoon, were colorfully arranged at the venue, and local U.S. investors also showed keen interest in the growth potential of Korean companies. In particular, K-Beauty, which surpassed France last year to rank first in the U.S. import market, showcased its power by receiving an explosive response from local visitors through its dedicated pavilion. Se-Ju Jung, Chairman of UKF, revealed his grand ambition: "We want to share the passionate stories of Korean entrepreneurs with the world, just like Elon Musk." The UKF community, which started as a small gathering of 6 people in 2019, has grown beyond 2,000 members, now achieving remarkable growth into a global festival with 10,000 participants. This was a symbolic occasion demonstrating the infinite potential for the Korean startup ecosystem to expand beyond borders and reach the entire world. The KOOM Festival set an important milestone for K-innovation and culture to write new history on the global stage.