...ses and faster. “The faster we can reach more small businesses, the faster Shakr can level the playing field in digital advertising between small businesses and big businesses,” he said. For more information, visit shakr.com. By Elaine Ramirez ( elaine@heraldcorp.com ) Start-up Seoul is a series featuring players in Korea’s emerging tech start-up scene. This is the 11th installment. ― Ed.

...’s massive opportunities can’t be ignored, he says. Its app market is the biggest in the world, and gaming companies are seizing opportunities. “So in that sense, I think the market is still very big.” By Elaine Ramirez, Korea Herald correspondent ( elaine@heraldcorp.com ) Start-up Seoul is a series featuring players in Korea’s emerging tech start-up scene. This is the 10th installment. ― Ed.

...said. The launch party will be held at Libertine Bar in Itaewon on Thursday from 7-10 p.m. The cost, payable by bank transfer, is 10,000 won, which includes a drink, hors d’oeuvres and a chance to win prizes. “We hope that people will celebrate with us as well as meet new people,” Sakuragi said. For more information, visit Over Lunch Seoul on Facebook. By Elaine Ramirez (elaine@heraldcorp.com)

...s and their families. People of the whole nation are caring for them, and delivering this message to the victims will make them stronger and happier, and heal their hearts,” Jeong said. Tree Planet’s campaign for the Forest for Victims of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan runs until Sept. 30. For more information, visit treepla.net (Korean page only). By Elaine Ramirez ( elaine@heraldcorp.com )

...rs from families (of) patients with mental disorders,” Lee said, showing an email he received earlier in the day from a man whose daughter has bipolar disorder. “So yeah, we need to hurry up.” For more information, visit ybrain.com. By Elaine Ramirez (elaine@heraldcorp.com) Start-up Seoul is a series featuring players in Korea’s emerging tech start-up scene. This is the ninth installment. ― Ed.

...of our company as a hardware company,” Moon said. “Of course, the fundamental is based on hardware technology, but we would like be recognized as a data-based skin care company in the long term.” For more information, visit www.helloway.co. Start-up Seoul is a series featuring players in Korea’s tech start-up scene. This is the eighth installment. ― Ed. By Elaine Ramirez (elaine@heraldcorp.com)

...nal communication service” to enrich users’ relationships. “We want to build a company which can make people get closer,” he said. “I think we can only survive when we can keep this vision in mind.” For more information, visit between.us. Start-up Seoul is a series featuring players in Korea’s tech start-up scene. This is the seventh installment. ― Ed. By Elaine Ramirez (elaine@heraldcorp.com)

...paradigm in Korea, but their survival depends on improving the risk-minimizing yet restrictive policies. “The start-up boom of recent will not just end as a fad, but create a new business landscape,” he said. “The business model that will determine whether the boom will end or continue to improve is crowdfunding.” By Elaine Ramirez and Sang Youn-joo (elaine@heraldcorp.com)(sangyj@heraldcorp.com)

... “Other than Coupang, we’ll keep investing in major players in Asian countries,” he said. “I think we will keep developing potentially No. 1 players in each country in e-commerce.” For more information, visit www.softbank.co.kr . By Elaine Ramirez (elaine@heraldcorp.com) Start-up Seoul is a series featuring players in Korea’s emerging tech start-up scene. This is the sixth installment. ― Ed.

...ts. “We give power to the fans, support music, and create a community at the local level. If we can have that in every country in the world, I think I’d be pretty happy about that.” For more information, visit krowdpop.com . By Elaine Ramirez ( elaine@heraldcorp.com ) Start-up Seoul is a series featuring players in Korea’s emerging tech start-up scene. This is the fifth installment. ― Ed.

...te Korean-French start-ups, he noted. He stressed that foreigners cannot and should not aim to change Korea, but that citizens must be self-motivated to improve their own creative economy. “It is not overnight and I really believe in the current capacity of changing. When they see the reality, when they fight the issue, they have a capacity to change.” By Elaine Ramirez (elaine@heraldcorp.com)

...erator by year-end and an Internet of Things lab in Songdo, Incheon, further down the road. Applications for the Seoul accelerator’s fifth class, to run this fall, close July 31. For more information, visit www.sparklabs.co.kr. Start-up Seoul is a new series featuring players in Korea’s emerging tech start-up scene. This is the fourth installment. ― Ed. By Elaine Ramirez (elaine@heraldcorp.com)

...$100 per month through the Manpower Ministry. Visa: Need physical office and proof of investment, and must submit investment reports every three months until receiving an “IUT” permanent business license. By Sang Youn-joo, Elaine Ramirez (sangyj@heraldcorp.com)( elaine@heraldcorp.com ) This is the sixth article in a series on foreigners working in Korea’s technology start-up ecosystem. ― Ed.

...I hear a group of folks talking about a product that was built in Korea as much as they do Facebook or Instagram or Snapchat … I think that’s going to be the proudest moment for me.” For more info, visit kimchi.500.co. By Elaine Ramirez ( elaine@heraldcorp.com ) Start-up Seoul is a new series featuring players in Korea’s emerging tech start-up scene. This is the third installment. ― Ed.