Korean and Japanese venture investment institutions are creating a global fund amounting to 29 billion won to invest in startups in both countries. The government expects that the global fund will play a significant role in investing in Korean and Japanese startups and facilitating exchanges between the venture investment ecosystems of both countries.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups announced that three institutions, including Shinhan Venture Investment, Korea Venture Investment, and Japan's Global Brain, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaboration at the 'Korea-Japan Venture and Startup Investment Summit 2025' held at The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome Hall.

Minister Oh Youngju (center) participates in the signing ceremony of the Korea-Japan Cooperation Global Fund MOU at the Korea-Japan Venture and Startup Investment Summit 2025 held in Tokyo, Japan on Nov. 21. /Courtesy of Ministry of SMEs and Startups

At the investment summit, Minister Oh Youngju, Shinhan Venture Investment CEO Park Seonbae, Global Brain CEO Yasuhiko Yurimoto, and Korea Venture Investment Deputy CEO Shin Sanghan attended.

The Korea-Japan cooperation global fund will be established with participation from investors in both countries, including the government’s primary fund for small and medium enterprises, amounting to 29 billion won. This is part of the plan announced by the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups in its report earlier this year to 'quickly create a global fund of over 1 trillion won annually.'

The global fund will be jointly operated by 'Shinhan Venture Investment' (Korea) and 'Global Brain' (Japan), which are leading venture capitals in Korea and Japan.

Minister Oh said, 'The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups will actively support the attraction of global investments for startups by establishing a global fund of over 1 trillion won annually, ensuring that K-startups grow to become leaders in the global market.'

At the Korean startup investment attraction presentation, 10 Korean startups in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), information technology (IT), biotechnology, and cosmetics conducted investment attraction activities in front of investment institutions from Korea and Japan.