[Korean Startup Weekly News #126] Physical AI Takes Center Stage – WOWTALE

• The Physical Turn: Korea’s AI story is literally getting heavier—robotics, semiconductors, fusion, carbon capture. Software ate the world; now Korea’s building the machines that build the world.

• Healthcare AI specialization accelerates: Two funded companies, two completely different clinical workflows. Expect more verticalization as healthcare AI matures beyond general-purpose diagnostics.

• Korea → World pipelines solidify: Scale-up TIPS (DDH), Series B Japan expansion (wert), SpaceX validation (PowerCubeSemi)—multiple pathways emerging for Korean startups to go global with both government and market support.

• Climate tech gets concrete: CEL LAB’s carbon capture membranes and EternaFusion’s fusion tech represent capital flowing into physical climate solutions, not just software-based carbon accounting.

• The Naver/Kakao early-stage engine: Both tech giants’ VC arms (D2SF, Kakao Ventures) appear multiple times this week, cementing their role as Korea’s primary seed-stage infrastructure for frontier tech.