Everyone's Startup Faces Data Leak Scandal Just Two Days After Launch... "AI Solution Provider Removed from List" (Comprehensive)

"We Will Continue to Investigate Links to the Incident"

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has apologized and pledged to prevent recurrence regarding the recent data leak incident involving the personal information of the first round of successful applicants for the Everyone's Startup project, which has been the subject of controversy. A specific AI solution provider, known to have used some successful applicants' email addresses to send promotional content, has been excluded from the list of eligible providers, and the ministry will continue to investigate any links to this incident.

Hansung Sook, Minister of SMEs and Startups, attended the inauguration ceremony of the first class of Everyone's Startup held at SVC Seoul in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 16th and gave a congratulatory speech. Photo by Dongju Yoon

On June 18, at a related briefing held at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, the Ministry stated to reporters, "It has been confirmed that many of the first round of successful applicants whose personal information such as email addresses was leaked received promotional emails from a certain AI solution provider. Despite the regulation that promotional activities by AI solution providers may result in exclusion from the list of eligible providers, we take it very seriously that promotional content was sent using the applicants' private personal information (email addresses). We will continue to investigate any connection to this incident."

The Ministry added, "Above all, we would like to express our apologies to the applicants who trusted and participated in the program," and stated, "We are internally discussing what kind of compensation to provide to those affected by this incident."

The Everyone's Startup project is a 'national startup audition' open to anyone with an idea and is considered a key initiative of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Thanks to the simple application process, more than 60,000 people applied for the first round of idea screening alone, and on June 15, the nicknames, number of followers, and round advancement status of the 5,000 successful applicants were released through the official platform.

The following day, on June 16, controversy arose as it spread among some applicants that they had received promotional emails from an AI solution provider at their private email accounts. To help successful applicants further develop their startup ideas, Everyone's Startup provides support for using AI solutions up to a maximum of 1 million won per month for those who passed the first round. These successful applicants can freely choose and use at least one provider from the list of about 280 AI solution companies published on the official Everyone's Startup platform.

The AI solution provider in question was one of the approximately 280 companies listed on the platform, but after becoming aware of the incident, the Ministry immediately removed it from the list of eligible providers.

Screenshot of the Official Website of Everyone's Startup

The Ministry has not yet been able to determine exactly how many of the 5,000 successful first-round applicants actually had their personal information leaked. The actual scale of the impact will continue to be investigated in cooperation with professional organizations.

According to the Ministry, the leaked information consisted of private data not published on the official platform, such as the applicants' email addresses, idea summaries, and judges' comments. There have been no confirmed cases of other personal information—such as real names, mobile phone numbers, or detailed application forms—being leaked. The Ministry has individually notified all first-round successful applicants of the incident and provided relevant guidance.

A Ministry official said, "We are continuing to monitor for any further signs of leaks, and we are reviewing the system together with external specialist agencies, such as the National Cyber Security Center. We will thoroughly determine the exact cause and comprehensively strengthen our personal information management system to ensure similar cases do not happen again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.