SDT Inc., also known as Quantum Standard Technology, is a South Korean quantum technology company founded in 2017 with headquarters in Seoul. It works on quantum computing, quantum cloud, quantum communication, and quantum sensing commercialization, and it is leading the development of South Korea's first full-stack quantum computer. SDT was founded by CEO Jiwon Yune, who studied physics and electronic engineering at MIT and worked as a researcher at the MIT-Harvard University Research Center and the KIST Quantum Information Research Center.

SDT is jointly developing quantum processing units based on silicon spin and diamond nitrogen-vacancy quantum technologies with Seoul National University and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology. It is developing a 3D qubit array architecture planned for the first half of 2025, and it is targeting a 64-qubit superconducting quantum computer by the first half of 2026 and photonic integrated circuit quantum computers by 2027. The company plans to build quantum computing data centers for cloud services and is advancing South Korea's National Strategy for Quantum Technology while building the domestic quantum ecosystem.

In August 2024, SDT secured 10 billion KRW, approximately $7.5 million USD, in Pre-IPO investment from Shinhan Venture Investment to commercialize quantum computers. In 2025, SDT secured an additional 100 billion KRW from Shin Hventure, bringing total investment to 200 billion KRW, roughly $145M USD. In January 2026, SDT raised a further 30 billion KRW from Praxis Capital.

Daejeon Quantum Technology Cluster partnered with AWS to establish a quantum technology industrialization center, hosting KAIST, KRISS, ETRI, and quantum startups. The regional quantum hub concentrates Korea's quantum R&D resources. The cluster provides shared infrastructure, facilitates collaboration between research institutes and companies, and supports quantum startup formation to establish Daejeon as Korea's quantum valley and a global quantum technology hub.

Daejeon Quantum Technology Cluster

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) is South Korea's flagship ICT-focused government research institute, founded in 1976 and headquartered in Daejeon. Its quantum programme spans QKD network systems, quantum random number generators, integrated photonic chips, on-chip single-photon sources, post-quantum cryptography, and quantum networking protocols.

ETRI has supplied or co-developed QKD systems for Korean carriers including SK Telecom, KT Corporation, and LG Uplus, and has contributed to Korea's quantum communication infrastructure pilots. It is a major contributor to the Korean Post-Quantum Cryptography (KpqC) standardisation process and operates photonic-IC research lines that feed the country's silicon-photonics ecosystem.

ETRI

KT Corporation, formerly Korea Telecom, is a South Korean telecommunications company founded in 1981 and headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea.

KT conducts quantum communications research, deploying quantum key distribution (QKD) networks and quantum-safe security for telecommunications infrastructure. It has demonstrated quantum cryptography implementations and quantum network trials in South Korea, and explores quantum networking for 5G security and future telecommunications infrastructure. The company collaborates with Korean quantum technology companies and research institutions on quantum communications commercialization.

In June 2025, KT partnered with the Israeli startup HEQA Security to deploy QKD using Sceptre Link and Duo systems in carrier-grade Korean telecom networks, demonstrated at Quantum Korea 2025.

KT serves Korean telecommunications markets, enterprise customers, and government agencies that need quantum-safe communications, and contributes to South Korea's quantum technology strategy by protecting telecommunications networks against quantum computing threats.

KT Corporation

Korea Quantum Computing Hub is a Daejeon-based quantum research hub backed by over 30 national research institutes including KAIST, KRISS, and ETRI, central to Korea's quantum valley initiative. The consortium coordinates quantum research across Korea's leading institutions. KQC Hub serves as the focal point for Korea's national quantum computing program, coordinating research, sharing resources, and developing the quantum workforce to establish Korea as a competitive quantum technology nation.

Korea Quantum Computing Hub

EYL is a South Korean quantum security specialist that commercialized the industry's first radioisotope-based quantum random number generator (QRNG) chip, applying the natural decay process of radioisotopes to cryptographic information security. Founded in 2014, EYL built its QUANTUM™ QRNG product family to meet convergence security demands of the 4th Industrial Revolution and to secure IoT devices. Its products include the QUANTUM Entropy Chip (QEC) and QUANTUM™ QRNG in flipchip, USB, and PCI card formats, supporting RNG speeds up to 4 Gbps.

EYL won the Diamond Award at MassChallenge Boston 2016, the world's biggest startup competition. In 2025, South Korea recognized EYL's QRNG as a national strategic technology within the quantum cryptography and quantum communication category, prioritizing it for state support and integration into critical infrastructure. The technology serves the finance, telecommunications, defense, and public sectors, and EYL has expanded into Indonesia, Europe, and Middle East markets.

ICTK is a South Korean security semiconductor company specializing in hardware-rooted security and post-quantum cryptography chip design. The company formed a $15M strategic partnership with BTQ Technologies to co-develop the Quantum Compute in Memory (QCIM) security chip, targeting 1 million digital signatures per second and 5x AES processing speed for infrastructure-grade security. ICTK's PQC chip expertise complements BTQ's post-quantum algorithms to deliver quantum-safe hardware security for critical infrastructure, financial systems, and IoT deployments.

ICTK

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is South Korea's leading science and technology research university, established in 1971 in Daejeon. It is a central institution in South Korea's quantum technology programme, conducting research in superconducting qubits, quantum cryptography, quantum sensing, and quantum materials.

KAIST's quantum computing research is hosted in the Korea Quantum Computing Hub in Daejeon, which partners with AWS to create a quantum technology industrialization centre. The institute contributes to South Korea's 3 trillion KRW national quantum strategy and works alongside ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute) and KRISS (Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science). KAIST research groups have developed superconducting qubit processors and quantum error correction protocols aligned with the national goal of building a 1,000-qubit quantum computer by 2030.

KAIST takes part in international research collaborations with institutions including MIT, ETH Zurich, and major quantum companies. Its quantum photonics group develops single-photon sources and quantum optical communication systems. KAIST's industry connections include partnerships with Samsung, LG, SK Telecom, and Korean defence agencies developing quantum sensing and quantum-safe communication applications. Update 2026-06-11: KAIST researchers developed a 2D Metal-Organic Framework that maintains single-layer electronic properties when stacked. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/stacked-kaist-material-single-layer-electronics/ Update 2026-01-13: KAIST and POSTECH engineered 3D printing technology for ultra-high-density components needed for quantum and AI. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/kaist-postech-nanolasers-3d-printing/

KAIST

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) is South Korea's national metrology institute, located in Daejeon at the Korea Quantum Computing Hub. It is the Korean counterpart to NPL in the UK, NIST in the US, and PTB in Germany, maintaining quantum-based national measurement standards for South Korea and contributing to the country's quantum technology strategy.

KRISS operates optical atomic clocks, Josephson voltage standards, quantum Hall resistance standards, and precision magnetic field measurement systems. Its quantum sensing research produces practical quantum sensors for industrial metrology, gravitational surveys, and biomedical imaging. KRISS is a core member of the Daejeon Quantum Technology Cluster, working alongside KAIST, ETRI, and AWS to develop South Korea's quantum valley.

KRISS contributes to international quantum metrology through the BIPM and APMP (Asia Pacific Metrology Programme) frameworks, and it takes part in South Korea's national quantum strategy, which targets a 1,000-qubit quantum computer and quantum communication networks by 2030. The institute's quantum technology programmes support Korean quantum hardware companies through calibration, testing, and standards development services.

KRISS

Korea Quantum Industry Association (KQIA) has 50 members including telecom providers, semiconductor firms, banks, defense contractors, and startups advancing the Korean quantum industry. The industry association coordinates quantum technology commercialization efforts. KQIA serves as the voice of Korea's quantum industry, advocating for supportive policies, coordinating industry-government collaboration, and promoting Korean quantum technology companies in global markets.

Korea Quantum Industry Association

The Korean Post-Quantum Cryptography (KpqC) competition is South Korea's national PQC standardisation initiative, launched in 2021 by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) with the National Security Research Institute and modelled on the NIST PQC process. The first round opened in November 2022 with 7 KEM and 9 digital-signature candidates, and the second round in December 2023 advanced four of each.

In January 2025 the KpqC secretariat announced the final winners: NTRU+ and SMAUG-T as Key Encapsulation Mechanisms, and AIMer and HAETAE as digital signature algorithms. KpqC outputs feed the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) Korean cryptographic standards stack and inform PQC adoption by Korean telcos, semiconductor firms, and government systems.

Korean Post Quantum Cryptography

LG Electronics conducts quantum computing research and development through its advanced technology research divisions, exploring applications in display technology, semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics optimization. Its work includes quantum algorithms for materials simulation, supply chain optimization, and manufacturing process enhancement. LG participates in South Korea's national quantum initiative and collaborates with academic institutions and research organizations to develop quantum technologies that could improve its product portfolio across home appliances, mobile devices, automotive components, and energy solutions.

In November 2025, LG Electronics made an equity investment in Pasqal, with the amount undisclosed, and the two companies are co-developing quantum algorithms for multiphysics simulation and materials discovery. LG Uplus, LG's telecom subsidiary, also signed an MOU with CryptoLab for post-quantum cryptography in connected vehicles.

LG Electronics

ORIENTOM is a South Korean startup founded in 2020 by Alfred Bang, also known as Seung-hyun Bang, who serves as CEO and as Chairman of the Korea Quantum Industry Association (KQIA). The company develops application software that makes quantum computing accessible for financial services.

ORIENTOM collaborates with Yonsei University on joint research applying quantum computing to financial problems, with Yonsei students working as ORIENTOM interns and presenting papers on the potential and limitations of quantum financial algorithms. The company develops and integrates financial algorithms covering portfolio optimization, risk assessment, derivative pricing, and financial market modeling into financial platforms.

In October 2025, ORIENTOM announced plans to build a middleware platform of complete quantum finance algorithms by a target of 2030, and is working on a national project on derivative product valuation with Kookmin Bank and Yonsei University. ORIENTOM collaborates with NVIDIA and expanded into Southeast Asia in 2025, serving Korean and Asian financial institutions that need quantum-enhanced computation. Update 2025-08-07: Orientom is expanding its quantum financial technology into Southeast Asia. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/orientom-expands-quantum-finance-into-southeast-asia/

ORIENTOM

QSIMPLUS offers QSIMPro, a quantum communication software simulator for prototyping quantum cryptography systems without physical hardware. The Korean company provides simulation tools for quantum network and QKD system design. QSIMPLUS enables researchers and companies to develop and test quantum communication protocols in software before building physical systems, accelerating quantum communications technology development and reducing development costs.

QSIMPLUS

Quantum Intelligence Corp (QIC) integrates quantum computing with artificial intelligence to support drug discovery. Its QUEST platform uses algorithms that analyze how electronic charges are distributed in molecules to predict drug behavior, effectiveness, and safety, relying on an artificial neural network prediction model that adopts the 3D distribution of electrostatic potentials (ESPs) derived from quantum mechanics.

In August 2024, QIC partnered with QuEra Computing to use quantum computers to improve QUEST platform performance. The company also collaborates with Oxford Quantum Circuits in the UK, Quandela in France, and Classiq in Israel, and runs a joint venture with 48Hour Discovery in Canada. Beyond healthcare, QIC explores quantum computing for finance, including algorithmic trading, risk analysis, and asset management.

Quantum Intelligence Corp

Qunova Computing is, by its own account, the first company to achieve chemical accuracy on commercial quantum computing using platform-agnostic algorithms, with a focus on drug discovery and materials science. The Daejeon-based company develops quantum chemistry algorithms.

In January 2026, Qunova launched HI-VQE (Handover Iterative Variational Quantum Eigensolver) on the AWS Marketplace, integrated with Amazon Braket for high-precision chemistry simulations. The company claims a 1,000x improvement in efficiency for molecular simulations.

Reaching chemical accuracy is a notable milestone for quantum computing in computational chemistry, suggesting that current quantum hardware can deliver useful results for drug discovery and materials design. Update 2026-06-06: Qunova Computing has been selected to join the JHPC-quantum Test User Program in Japan. Source: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/jhpc-quantum-test-user-qunova-joins/

Qunova Computing

SK Telecom is South Korea's largest telecommunications company and an early mover in combining quantum cryptography with 5G networks. It has developed quantum key distribution systems for highly secure mobile communications and quantum-safe encryption protocols for next-generation telecom infrastructure.

In January 2026, SK Telecom announced a strategic partnership with IonQ in which SK Telecom and SK Square will exchange ID Quantique shares for IonQ shares. The plan is to integrate IonQ quantum computing with AI services such as A-DoT and Aster, AI data centers, and QKD and PQC technologies. SK Telecom is also part of the Samsung-LG-SK Telecom quantum technology consultative body launched under South Korea's $5.6B quantum roadmap.

The company has demonstrated quantum-secured voice calls and data transmission over commercial 5G networks while building South Korea's national quantum communication infrastructure.

SK Telecom

SK hynix Inc. is a South Korean memory semiconductor supplier founded in 1983 and headquartered in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. It explores quantum computing applications including quantum memory, quantum-classical hybrid systems, and semiconductor technologies for quantum control systems.

The company investigates cryogenic memory solutions for quantum computers and semiconductor components for quantum computing infrastructure. It collaborates with quantum computing companies and research institutions to develop semiconductor technologies for quantum systems. Serving global semiconductor markets and the quantum technology sector, SK hynix contributes to quantum computing infrastructure development and represents South Korea's semiconductor industry in quantum technology.

SK hynix

Samsung conducts quantum computing research and development through their advanced technology divisions, focusing on quantum hardware components, quantum algorithms, and quantum applications that could enhance Samsung's semiconductor, display, and mobile technologies, while exploring quantum computing applications in materials science, cryptography, and optimization problems relevant to Samsung's diverse technology portfolio and South Korea's national quantum initiatives.

Samsung

In September 2024, SK Telecom unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Quantum 5, a fifth-generation smartphone that combines quantum technology with the Samsung Knox security platform. The Galaxy Quantum 5 features a tiny Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) chipset designed by ID Quantique and Samsung.

In January 2026, a post-quantum-ready security chip from Samsung was recognized at the CES 2026 awards. The chip embeds Thales secure OS and quantum-resistant cryptographic libraries, and Samsung's PQC implementation began with the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung is part of the Samsung-LG-SK Telecom quantum technology consultative body launched under South Korea's $5.6B quantum roadmap.

Together these efforts reflect Samsung's continued work to bring quantum-enhanced security to mainstream smartphone users.

Samsung Electronics

Samsung SDS Quantum Cryptography Division developed national post-quantum cryptography algorithms as part of Samsung's quantum technology investments. The IT services arm of Samsung Group is implementing quantum-safe security solutions. Samsung SDS is integrating post-quantum cryptography into enterprise IT systems and cloud services, helping Korean businesses prepare for quantum computing threats to current encryption systems.

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