In August 2026, two domestic battery-material startups raised large investment rounds in quick succession. A solid-electrolyte specialist secured KRW 23.0 billion in a Series C round, and an aqueous zinc-ion battery company secured KRW 22.0 billion in a Series A round. Both companies handle materials whose process conditions differ from the conventional lithium-ion system, so from a shop-floor standpoint, the more important question is not the investment news itself but "what changes once this material actually reaches a mass-production line." Key Points at a Glance CategorySolid ElectrolyteAqueous Zinc-Ion Battery Funding roundSeries CSeries A Funding amountKRW 23.0 billionKRW 22.0 billion Difference from conventional lithium-ionThe liquid-electrolyte impregnation process itself disappears or shrinksUses…