Success over scale

At the center of the claim is Lee's argument that a startup city should not be measured primarily by counts of companies or founders. In her view, the priority is producing genuinely successful ventures that can anchor the local ecosystem, rather than chasing volume-based metrics.

Daejeon as the proving ground

Daejeon, a city long associated with science and research institutions, is positioned as the place where this success-oriented model is being sought out. Lee's remarks frame the city as a candidate to demonstrate what a successful startup city looks like in practice, with the search for a working "success model" taking place there.

The emphasis on success over figures suggests a shift in how startup policy outcomes are discussed — away from headline statistics and toward whether companies founded in the region can grow and endure.

What the remarks signal

Lee's statement ties the startup city agenda directly to Daejeon's identity as a science and technology hub, indicating that the city's role in the initiative is to pioneer and refine an approach that others could follow. Details beyond this framing — including specific programs, targets, or timelines — were not provided in the remarks.

The claim as stated holds up: Lee So-young did call for prioritizing success over numbers in building a startup city, with Daejeon as the focus of the effort to find a success model. Verdict: True