**AI PRISM* Customized Economic Briefing**
*Editor's note: 'AI PRISM' (Personalized Report & Insight Summarizing Media) is an AI-based customized news recommendation and summary service developed with support from the Korea Press Foundation. It selects and provides six tailored news items for each reader type.*
[Key Issue Briefing]
■ AI Financial Transformation: IBK Industrial Bank of Korea is building a system to identify innovative companies within seven years of founding by combining AI evaluation models with SME data accumulated over 65 years. The bank will unveil its future growth model on the 23rd of this month and plans to provide preemptive support to companies with potential even if their financial structures are somewhat weak.
■ Robot Valuation Surge: Boston Dynamics, a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate, has been valued at approximately 30 trillion won—24 times higher than its acquisition price in 2021. The humanoid robot "Atlas" unveiled at CES 2026 was the key catalyst for the valuation increase, with the financial investment industry estimating a maximum value of 100 trillion won.
■ Capital Market Restructuring: The government has decided to split the KOSDAQ market into Division 1 for mature companies and Division 2 for growth companies, and will in principle prohibit dual listings where subsidiaries are listed while parent companies remain listed. Publication of low-PBR (price-to-book ratio) company lists and ticker tags will also be implemented.
[News of Interest to Startup Founders]
1. IBK Applies AI to SME Data to Identify and Support Innovative Companies
IBK Industrial Bank of Korea is leveraging AI-based evaluation models with SME data accumulated over 65 years since its founding to identify innovative companies. The "AI and Big Data-based Future Growth Model," scheduled for release on the 23rd of this month, analyzes growth paths and common factors of successful company groups to identify promising companies within seven years of founding, even if their current financial structures are somewhat weak.
The bank will also introduce an AI-based system to detect mis-selling of investment products in the first half of this year to strengthen consumer protection. Next month, it will launch an AI transformation (AX) consulting service for SMEs using generative AI.
"Our goal is to make IBK Group comparable to AI companies," said IBK President Jang Min-young.
2. Samsung Electronics to Invest 110 Trillion Won in Future Growth Areas, Pursue Advanced Robot M&A
Samsung Electronics announced it will invest a record 110 trillion won in facilities and R&D this year. This represents a 21.7% increase from last year's investment of 90.4 trillion won, with facility investment expected to focus on construction of the P4 and P5 semiconductor plants in Pyeongtaek.
The company also announced plans to pursue meaningful M&A deals in future growth areas including advanced robotics, medtech, automotive electronics, and HVAC systems. Meanwhile, the Galanta plant in Slovakia, Samsung's European TV production base, will cease final operations in May as part of business efficiency measures.
3. KOSDAQ to Split into Divisions 1 and 2; Dual Listings Prohibited in Principle
The government will split the KOSDAQ market into Division 1 for mature companies and Division 2 for growth companies, with implementation beginning early next year.
The plan, announced by Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won at a meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung, prohibits in principle dual listings where subsidiaries are listed while parent companies remain listed. This applies not only to "spin-off dual listings" but also to acquired or newly established subsidiaries where substantial control exists.
Low-PBR companies will be published on the Korea Exchange's Value-up homepage, and ticker names will be tagged with "low-PBR." The Korea Exchange is also expected to accelerate plans to shorten stock settlement from the current T+2.
[Reference News for Startup Founders]
4. Uijeongbu City Establishes Three-Stage Support System from Startup Discovery to Demonstration to Commercialization
Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province is launching a three-stage support system—discovery, demonstration, and commercialization—to identify startups, verify their technologies, and connect them to public markets.
The city selects promising companies through the "Uijeongbu Innovation City Startup Challenge" and links them to PoC (proof of concept) projects that provide actual administrative environments as testbeds.
Gangdan Studio, which signed an agreement this time, is building a system that automatically converts administrative materials into video and image content using AI generation technology. Noilab, last year's grand prize winner, is conducting verification of dementia prevention solutions using dementia care center infrastructure.
"We will actively open public resources and infrastructure to contribute to creating an innovation ecosystem," said Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun.
5. Boston Dynamics Valued at 30 Trillion Won—24 Times Higher Than Acquisition Price
Boston Dynamics, Hyundai Motor Group's robotics affiliate, has been valued at approximately 30 trillion won—24 times the roughly 1.2482 trillion won at the time of acquisition completion in 2021.
Hyundai Glovis made an additional investment of 89.1 billion won last year, raising its stake to 11.25%, from which this figure was calculated.
The key catalyst for the valuation increase was the humanoid robot "Atlas" unveiled at CES 2026 earlier this year. Equipped with Google's AI model Gemini, it can lift up to 50 kg. The financial investment industry estimates Boston Dynamics' value at up to 100 trillion won, with a NASDAQ listing likely in early 2027.
6. Exports Decline for Fourth Consecutive Year, Profit Margins at 2%—Auto Parts Industry Faces Triple Challenges Amid Electrification
Korea's auto parts industry faces structural crisis as exports declined for four consecutive years, from $23.316 billion (approximately 35 trillion won) in 2022 to $21.2 billion in 2025.
According to the Korea Auto Industries Coop. Association, the number of Tier 1 suppliers directly delivering parts to automakers fell from 824 in 2020 to 685 in 2024, while SME operating profit margins stand at just 2.22%.
In response, Hyundai Mobis is pursuing the sale of its lamp and bumper divisions while entering the actuator business (drive devices that generate physical motion in robots), with business transformation accelerating among major conglomerate affiliates.
Experts point to the urgent need for technology sharing centered on national research institutes, expanded special guarantees for Tier 2 and 3 suppliers, and government-led industrial restructuring.
