Isu Startup Investment Appoints Jeong Hong-gyu, Former UQIPartners CEO, as New Head

Joined after stints at UQI and Busan Ventures
Rapid promotion unlike former Vice President Go Byeongcheol

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Isu Group-affiliated venture capital (VC) Isu Startup Investment has welcomed a new CEO. This move comes as the company reorganizes its structure following the departure of key investment personnel. Attention is focused on its future direction.

According to the investment banking (IB) industry on the 14th, Isu Startup Investment appointed Jeong Hong-gyu, former CEO of UQ Eye Partners (now BNK Venture Investment), as its new CEO. Jeong led UQ Eye Partners from 2010 until stepping down in 2017. Afterwards, he joined Busan Ventures, a startup investment company established by Busan Metropolitan City specializing in the Busan region.

Until just a few months ago, Jeong held the title of Executive Director at Isu Startup Investment. He was promoted to CEO in a relatively short period. Analysts suggest that this swift promotion was influenced by precedents set in previous cases.

Previously, Go Byung-chul, former head of Lighthouse Combine Invest, joined Isu Startup Investment as Vice President with a promise of the CEO position. As a veteran investment officer with over 20 years of experience and a representative-level figure, he expected to become CEO but ultimately did not receive the position.

Consequently, Vice President Go moved to Postech Holdings (Pohang University of Science and Technology Technology Holdings) as Investment Director (Vice President). He now leads venture investments while also holding a concurrent professorship at Postech. As an alumnus of Postech’s first class, 1987, he is regarded as having found his rightful place.

Isu Startup Investment is believed to have been concerned about the possibility of such situations recurring. It is widely analyzed that they quickly appointed former Executive Director Jeong to the CEO position to prevent further disruptions.

Founded in 2000, Isu Startup Investment is a first-generation startup investment company specializing in cultural content investments. Its largest shareholder is Isu Exachem, an Isu Group affiliate holding 95.88% of shares. Isu Exachem is a product sales company established to revitalize the precision chemical business of Isu Chemical.

Currently, Isu Startup Investment manages eight venture funds, primarily focused on culture, film, and sports sectors. Its assets under management (AUM) are approximately 120 billion KRW. However, since forming the 21.5 billion KRW ‘ISU-Content Korea Venture Fund’ in July 2020, it has not launched any new funds.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.