Vice Chairman Kwon Daeyoung: "KDB to Support Projects for Building Advanced Industry Ecosystems Such as Robotics and AI"

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Kwon Daeyoung, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, is holding a joint briefing between the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Financial Services Commission for hacking response at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 19th. Representatives from Lotte Card and KT were present at the briefing to answer questions from the press. September 19, 2025 Photo by Jo Yongjun

Kwon Daeyoung, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, stated at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the 25th, "If companies design projects that can foster the entire ecosystem of advanced industries such as robotics, we will provide financial structuring (funding support) after a review."

This is interpreted to mean that, regarding the 150 trillion won National Growth Fund jointly established by the Korea Development Bank and commercial banks, the government will not unilaterally determine the investment targets and methods. Instead, if companies submit investment proposals that can enhance the competitiveness of the industrial ecosystem-not just individual firms-the government will actively provide funding support after a review.

According to business and financial industry sources on the 25th, Vice Chairman Kwon made these remarks in response to a question following his lecture at the breakfast meeting, which asked, "Isn't it difficult for only large corporations to invest in advanced industries such as humanoid robots and artificial intelligence (AI), given that competitiveness is required across the entire ecosystem?"

Vice Chairman Kwon further emphasized, "Companies should prepare investment and business plans and meet with the Korea Development Bank. If necessary, the Financial Services Commission can facilitate such meetings. You just need to create a proposal outlining the need for investment across the entire industrial ecosystem, such as the region where the industrial complex will be established and the manufacturing companies that will participate."

Previously, in September, the government announced plans to create a 150 trillion won National Growth Fund over five years at the 'National Growth Fund National Report Meeting,' combining 75 trillion won from the Advanced Strategic Industry Fund and 75 trillion won from private finance, pension funds, industry, and public capital. The Advanced Strategic Industry Fund will support sectors such as robotics, AI, semiconductors, defense, bio, hydrogen, secondary batteries, displays, cultural content, and critical minerals.

With the Advanced Strategic Industry Fund set to officially launch on December 10 and the financial sector having completed its investment preparations, the breakfast meeting appears to have been an occasion to request active cooperation from industry. The five major financial holding companies have already each announced 'productive finance' investment plans ranging from 80 trillion to 110 trillion won and have decided to expand manufacturing loans (corporate lending) in advanced industry sectors.

'Productive finance' is a core financial policy of the new administration, aiming to shift finance, which has been concentrated in real estate, toward productive activities that drive economic growth. As part of this initiative, financial holding companies are contributing to the National Growth Fund. Vice Chairman Kwon's lecture on the theme of 'A Grand Transition to Productive Finance' is seen as a call for investment plans not only from the financial sector but also from the business community.

Currently, the Korea Development Bank is discussing investment plans for the Advanced Strategic Industry Fund with industry stakeholders. According to financial authorities, discussions regarding the first company to receive investment are already well underway.

Meanwhile, on this day, business leaders requested a review of ways to secure investment capital for advanced future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), given the significant capital required. There were also calls for improvements to RWA for bank corporate lending, the introduction of separate taxation for dividend income, and long-term holding tax benefits. The Financial Services Commission plans to review these issues as thoroughly as possible.

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