Korea is set to see significant growth in flexible employment solutions, as Korean startup Needer secures a strategic investment from Timee, Japan. The partnership aims to expand the spot work model—also known as ultra-short-term or time-based labor—across the market in South Korea, supporting cross-border labor innovation and demographic resilience.
Korean Startup Needer Secures Investment from Timee Japan
Needer, a Korean startup specializing in spot work in South Korea, announced on July 25, 2025, that it has secured a strategic investment from Timee, Japan.
This marks Timee’s first-ever overseas corporate investment. Founded in 2017, Timee grew rapidly by helping address Japan’s chronic labor shortages through its platform-based spot work model and successfully went public in 2024. Its entry into the Korean market reflects growing startup investment from Japan in Korea, particularly in sectors tackling workforce transformation and labor mobility.
By selecting Needer, Timee aims to bring its proven model to a new labor market through a local partner already active in South Korea’s evolving employment landscape. This investment partnership between Needer and Timee underscores shared goals of creating new job formats and enabling a more flexible, resilient labor ecosystem.
Gupgoo by Needer: Expanding Quick, Flexible Job Access in a Shrinking Workforce
Over the years, Needer has operated the Gubgoo platform, which connects job seekers to hourly gigs and ultra-short-term jobs with fast, flexible income opportunities. Gubgoo offers an end-to-end solution that includes attendance verification, job matching, and automated salary settlement—designed to reduce friction for both employers and workers.
Spot work in South Korea has become an increasingly critical labor model, especially as the country faces a record-low fertility rate of 0.75 and an aging population. Businesses in retail, logistics, and service sectors are increasingly turning to real-time, just-in-time staffing to fill labor gaps.
Gubgoo’s success in this space is reflected in its partnerships with major corporations such as Coupang, IKEA Korea, and BGF Retail. These collaborations have positioned Needer as more than just a gig platform—it now plays a vital role in Korea’s B2B labor infrastructure.
The new startup investment from Timee, Japan, further validates Needer’s strategy and expands its capacity to drive platform-based labor innovation across South Korea.
Accelerating Spot Work Market in South Korea with Investment from Timee Japan
With a new strategic investment from Timee, Japan, startup company Needer is set to accelerate the development of spot work market in South Korea.
The partnership reflects a shared goal: to establish new forms of employment and enable a more flexible labor ecosystem suited to Korea’s demographic and workforce shifts.
The two companies aim to scale spot work practices within South Korea and develop business models that address the country’s declining labor force and increasing demand for short-term, time-based jobs.
“South Korea is currently undergoing two major shifts: a declining labor population and rising demand for flexible job opportunities. Timee’s investment and partnership represent a critical first step toward jointly leading innovation in time-based labor markets.”
Shin Hyun Sik, CEO of Needer Korea.
Needer has stated that the investment will not only strengthen its technological and operational capabilities but also widen access to spot work opportunities—particularly for untapped labor segments such as side-job seekers and the aging population.
“Needer will work to expand spot work opportunities in the Korean market, which holds significant untapped potential—including side job seekers and the aging population. We aim to contribute to solving social problems by enabling more people to access new forms of work.”
Shin Hyun Sik, CEO of Needer Korea.
Combining Experience and Market Insight to Expand Employment Access in South Korea
Finally, new strategic move also reflects a broader trend of the startup investment from Japan in South Korea, particularly within the workforce technology and flexible labor sectors. Both countries face similar structural challenges, and the partnership is expected to generate scalable, culturally informed solutions for time-based labor.
“South Korea is experiencing a steeper decline in birthrate than Japan, with a total fertility rate of just 0.75.
By combining the expertise Timee has developed in Japan with Needer’s deep understanding of the Korean market, we believe we can more effectively realize our mission of ‘expanding the possibility of working’ in Korea as well.”
Ryo Ogawa, CEO of Timee.
The cross-border collaboration is expected to accelerate the growth of spot work opportunities and time-based labor platforms in South Korea, a market still in its early stages compared to Japan.
The joint initiative also aims to redefine employment norms by improving access to short-term, flexible jobs—especially among underutilized labor pools such as students, retirees, and side-job seekers.
Ultimately, this model not only addresses immediate market inefficiencies but contributes to building a more inclusive, responsive, and resilient employment framework in South Korea.
Keep tab on latest news in the Korean startup ecosystem & follow us on LinkedIN, Facebook, and Twitter for more exciting updates and insights.
