■ Book Introduction

“LOOK, HERE COMES THAT DREAMER.”

This book is a record of the bold dreams and challenges of author DAVID Ok, who is the CEO of the Korea Israel Business Council and the founder of Kkummer Space. After learning, understanding, and loving Israel, the author's new dream is to make the startup DNA of Israel bloom in South Korea.

Therefore, ‘dreamer’ DAVID Ok dreams that ‘Startup Israel’ will become ‘Startup South Korea’ in the future. He has been visiting Israel for over 10 years, and he willingly shares his valuable network, which he has built up with difficulty, from former prime ministers to startup legends, for those who dream like himself.

One person's dream and passion make another person's heart beat. DAVID Ok hopes that young Koreans are full of global dreams and passions like himself in their youth and is working with them to create a playground for dreamers. He dreams, plays, challenges, and longs to share at Kkummer Space. So, this is ultimately the life he wants.

“A person who lived as he dreamed."

■ Key Contents and Features

❶ The vividly portrayed Israeli startup ecosystem is captured through the author's firsthand experiences.

Israel, which is known vaguely as a land of conflict, religion, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people, is actually shown to be a cutting-edge ‘startup nation’ through the author's vivid experiences.

❷ The people who drive the global Israeli startup can be naturally encountered.

In a country with a land area of only Gangwon Province in South Korea and a population of less than ten million, powerful technology and patents move the world, with a vast human network laid beneath it.

❸ One can learn the author's startup and network know-how that he gained by traveling between Israel and South Korea.

One can listen to the dynamic world of startups and networks that only those who have created and raised them can know, with the author's passionate voice.

❹ One can get ideas for promising startup items that will create the near future society.

Why should we learn startup DNA from Israel? Because South Korea's future food is spread out infinitely over the sea of startups, from autonomous vehicles to metaverses.

❺ The book provides practical know-how on how young entrepreneurs can start and grow their startups.

The author, who has trained many young entrepreneurs, guides future young entrepreneurs on new paths with delicate and warm touches based on accumulated know-how.

■ Recommended reading

David Ok was born with Israeli genes. He believes that nothing is impossible and he risks his life to achieve his dreams. He is one of the few people I've met who literally live their dreams. However, he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has pioneered Israel with his bare hands and reached where he is today by networking.

After reading this book, you will be able to understand why Israel became the world's first from the world's best. The world is changing, and there are Jewish Americans leading the global change. The Jewish know-how is hidden like a treasure in this book. That's why I recommend this book to all businessmen who are starting up.

―Jeon Ha-jin(Former CEO of Hancom Inc., Chairman of the board of SDX Foundation)

Prologue

Foreword

CHAPTER 01 Israel Startup Story

History of hardship and persecution of Israel and global startup

Original technologies & Patents of Israel’s startup

Becoming the pioneer before becoming the bes

Success through Failure

Changing the world, instead of chasing after profit

The difference between Global Startup Incubating Universities

Why Korea is behind Israel

Israel as the major business hub of global CEOs

How Israel Innovation Authority(IIA) is leading future industry

Israel's Startup Mecca, Tel Aviv University

Israeli Ambassadors in South Korea

Israel Project for Globlal Startup of Geyonggido

CHAPTER 02 Global Israel KKUMMERS

Former Startup Israel Prime Minister, Yehud Olmert

Former Chairman of Tel Aviv University, Giora Yaron

CEO of Yozma Fund, Yigal Erlich

CEO of RAD Group, Zohar Zisapel

Father of Israel’s Startup, Yossi Vardi

General Secretary of Technion University, Peres Ravi

President of Startup VC Pitango, Nechemia Peres

CEO of Audiocodes, Shabtai Adlersberg

Vice President of Weizmann Lab, Dr. Mudi Sheves

Nobel Prize Winner, Professor Robert Aumann

Vice President of Check Point, Dorit Dor

CHAPTER 03 KKUMMER story

KKUMER questions

KKUMER acts

KKUMER pays the price

KKUMER grows through failures

KKUMER fixes kennel twelve times

KKUMER rises from despair

KKUMER leads the future

Investing in Global Entrepreneurs and Enterprises

The London Eye of Seoul in Hapjeong

The next Korea’s Israeli Ambassador

KKUMER Playground is a Vision Stage for the Next Generation

CHAPTER 04 Technologies that Change the World

Self Driving Car is the Key to Future

Self Driving Car is the Major Future Industry of Korea

Cyber Security is the Core Technology of Self Driving Car

Metaverse; Worldview and Storytelling beyond Technology

DAVID Ok

•Secretary-General of the Korea-Israel Business Council

•CEO of CAC Global Startup

•CEO of SOSA Korea

•CEO of Kkumer Space

•CEO of Kkumer Playground

David Ok is the CEO of Sosa Korea and also holds the position of Secretary General(Director) of the Korea-Israel Business Council, a non-profit organization. He works to explore the economic and business needs of Korea and Israel and create business opportunities between the two countries, together with entrepreneurs and executives from both countries. He hosts and organizes numerous global events and programs and has formed a global network to contribute to the economic development and startup ecosystem formation between Korea and Israel, and attract overseas investment.

David Ok's career highlights include hosting and organizing the dinner for Ehud Olmert, the former Prime Minister of Israel in 2012, and the first to fourth Korea-Israel Business Forum held in Tel Aviv, Israel, in the same year. He also signed an MOU with the College of Engineering at Tel Aviv University and the College of Engineering at Ewha Womans University in 2016, introduced the startup ecosystem of Gyeonggi Province and its officials to Israel in 2017, signed an Open Innovation program with SOSA-GCCEI-KT in 2018, and moved Sosa Korea to Pangyo Startup Campus in 2019. He also established the Dream Playground in 2021.

<Career>

•Hosted and organized a dinner party for Ehud Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel in 2012

•Held the 1st to 4th Korea-Israel Business Forum in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2012

•Signed an MOU between Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Engineering and Ewha Womans University's Faculty of Engineering in 2016

•Introduced and provided business training on the startup ecosystem of Israel to officials from Gyeonggi Province in 2017

•Signed an Open Innovation program partnership with SOSA-GCCEI-KT in 2018

•Moved into Pangyo Startup Campus operated by SOSA Korea in 2019

•Established the ‘Dream Playground’ in 2021

<Education>

•University of Mary Hardin Baylor(BA in Sociology)