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Busan City and BNK Financial Group to Launch 50 Billion Won 'Maritime Venture Fund'

Finance · Investment Managers · yonhap_finance · 2026-08-29

Busan City and BNK Financial Group are partnering to create a 50 billion won venture fund to address investment gaps and support local business growth.

What Happened

Fund Formation: Busan City and BNK Financial Group are collaborating to launch a 50 billion won 'Maritime Venture Fund' to bolster the local venture investment infrastructure. The city will contribute 20 billion won, while BNK Financial Group will provide 30 billion won to establish the master fund.

Operational Strategy: Following the establishment of the master fund, BNK Venture Investment will be selected as the manager to oversee over 250 billion won in sub-funds over the next 10 to 12 years. This initiative aims to create a robust investment framework that supports companies through various stages of growth.

Investment Objectives: The fund is designed to complement existing local funds by addressing the investment void for companies in the 'scale-up' phase. By providing consistent capital, the initiative seeks to foster the sustainable growth of promising local enterprises.

Next Steps: Busan City has requested a central investment review and plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with BNK Financial Group in October. This partnership is expected to significantly enhance the quality and depth of the venture ecosystem in the Busan region.

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