[lifthrasiir]

> Startups are quite big in SK because the government gives them lots of funding.

They need funding mainly because otherwise the govt sector and chaebol would outlive them. It greatly depends on the exact circumstances though. (Source: Had been in several startups with varying degrees of funding.)

> Fair warning to other foreigners, you will have to make _a lot_ of sacrifices.

Mainly because most if all people in Korean startups are necessarily Koreans. The same thing happens whenever many members share the same background, not just the nationality.