Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) said on the 28th that in the Ministry of Planning and Budget's "2025 fiscal year fund operation evaluation," the Fund for the Promotion of Startups and SMEs (Jungjin Fund) received the top grade of "excellent" for the seventh straight year.
The fund operation evaluation is a system in which an evaluation panel of private-sector experts reviews surplus cash management performance, management systems, policy formulation, and the appropriateness of investment execution, and assigns one of six grades from "excellent" to "very inadequate." Among the 25 funds evaluated this year, Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) was the only institution to receive an "excellent" grade for seven consecutive years. In total, three funds received the "excellent" grade.
Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) was assessed to have secured both profitability and stability by responding to market trends amid heightened market volatility last year, including prolonged high interest rates and growing uncertainty in the global trade environment. In particular, it received high marks for strengthening the expertise and independence of its dedicated asset management organization, advancing a committee-centered decision-making system, and building a risk management framework across all processes.
Kang Seok-jin, chair of Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), said, "Despite the so-called 'K-shaped growth' amid a super-boom in the artificial intelligence (AI) supply chain, the business environment felt by small and midsize companies is, in reality, harsh," adding, "Going forward, KOSME will continue to work to secure growth drivers for small and midsize ventures that need to overcome crises and achieve innovative growth, based on the soundness of the fund."
Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) is deploying a 12.1229 trillion won Jungjin Fund to the field this year. It is supporting small and midsize ventures with: ▲ fostering innovative companies and overcoming crises ▲ expanding exports and advancing overseas ▲ strengthening regional industrial ecosystems ▲ bolstering AI capabilities and deep-tech startups.