Find XO: Restrictions on Shareholding for Public Research Institute Researchers Lifted, Conditions for Recruiting Co-founders Changed (zdnet.co.kr)

- On August 20, the National Assembly passed five laws allowing researchers from public research institutes and science and technology institutes to retain shares acquired through startup creation or technology transfer. - Startup cases from public research institutes had declined from 62 in 2020 to 25 in 2024. - This is encouraging news for deep tech teams wanting to recruit researchers as co-founders, but restrictions on concurrent positions and commercial activities remain, and the effective date is not yet set. - It is safer to begin recruitment discussions but postpone signing shareholding provisions until the enforcement date is confirmed.