“Is It a Life-Changing Item?”… The Legendary Investment Reality Show ‘Shark Tank’ Lands in Korea

The global legendary reality investment show 〈Shark Tank〉 is finally landing in Korea, known as the dream stage for entrepreneurs and the gateway for startups.

Coupang Play has confirmed the production of 25 〈Shark Tank Korea〉 and announced that it will actively recruit entrepreneurs with innovative items that will shake the global market beyond South Korea. This legendary format, which has continued for 17 seasons in the U.S. and has been remade in over 50 countries, is already drawing attention in the industry regarding what kind of business synergy it will create with the massive distribution platform Coupang.

〈Shark Tank〉 is a reality show that vividly captures the process of entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas and the 'sharks', who are major investors, engaging in fierce negotiations to exchange equity and cash, ultimately becoming real business partners. The biggest feature of this 〈Shark Tank Korea〉 is that it breaks down all entry barriers such as age, occupation, and experience, and competes solely based on the value of the ‘item’. Anyone who has a prototype or an implemented service beyond the idea stage can challenge, and applications are possible through Coupang Play's official Instagram until March 29 (Sunday).

The reason this project is expected to be a ‘stage for life transformation’ beyond simple entertainment production is due to Coupang's powerful infrastructure. Items chosen by the 'sharks' through the broadcast will receive not only financial investment but also a promise of extraordinary support for direct engagement with the public. Just like the scrubber 'Scrub Daddy', which recorded sales of 2 trillion won through the American version of 〈Shark Tank〉, or 'Utah Cupbap', which sparked a K-food craze across the continental U.S., whether a new 'K-item' myth that captivates the world can be born in Korea is a major point of interest. The 〈Shark Tank Korea〉, aiming for a release in 2026, is expected to bring new waves to the South Korean startup ecosystem.