First-Half Venture Investment Reaches 5.7 Trillion Won, Up 3.5% Year-on-Year

Venture Investment Rises 3.5% Year-on-Year in H1 2025
Bio and Medical Sectors Lead Growth, Game Sector Doubles Investment
Large-Scale Investments Increase, More Companies Attract Over 30 Billion Won
Private Sector Contributions Surge, Pension Funds and Corporations Drive Upward Trend
AI and K-Beauty Companies Achieve Unicorn Status for the First Time

The amount of new venture investment in the first half of this year reached 5.7 trillion won, marking a 3.5% increase compared to the same period last year.

On August 13, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the trends in new venture investment and venture fund formation for the first half of this year. By sector, the bio and medical field saw the largest increase, with investments rising by 124 billion won. Additionally, the game sector recorded the highest year-on-year investment growth rate at 100%.

Based on venture capital companies and funds, the number of companies that attracted investments of 30 billion won or more increased from one in the first half of last year to five this year. As a result, the average investment per company also rose compared to the same period last year, with large-scale investments concentrated in certain companies.

The amount of venture funds formed in the first half of the year was 6.2 trillion won, a 19.4% increase from the same period last year. By type of investor, policy finance increased by 8% year-on-year, while the private sector saw a 22% rise. Within the private sector, contributions from pension funds, mutual aid associations, and general corporations surged by 130% and 58%, respectively, driving the overall upward trend.

Among the companies that received investments from venture capital companies and funds in the first half of the year, FuriosaAI and Vinau were each valued at over 1 trillion won for the first time and successfully attracted investment. FuriosaAI designs artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, while Vinau is a company that manufactures and sells cosmetics. This demonstrates the strong performance of AI and K-beauty in the domestic venture investment market.

Han Sung-sook, Minister of SMEs and Startups, stated, "The increase in venture investment compared to last year, along with the significant growth in fund formation driven by greater private sector contributions, is a very positive signal." She added, "We will continue to make policy efforts so that promising companies can grow through venture investment and expand into global markets."

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