The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 26th that, together with the Korea Venture Capital Association, it held the 2026 CVC Link-Day.
The event was organized to share policy directions and investment trends for CVCs and to expand not only investments between CVCs and promising startups but also business cooperation opportunities. The event featured presentations on CVC investment strategies, startup investor relations (IR) sessions, and networking programs.
On the day, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Korea Fair Trade Commission disclosed the status of domestic CVCs and last year's investment performance. Based on counts of venture investment companies or new technology business finance specialists that operate funds with capital contributions from parent companies and where nonfinancial corporations are the largest shareholders holding at least 30% equity, CVCs numbered 114 out of 444 domestic venture capital firms as of the end of last year.
Domestic CVC investment last year totaled about 2.9 trillion won, the largest amount since statistics began in 2022. That accounts for 21.3% of the total venture investment of 13.6 trillion won during the same period. Investments by CVCs of general holding companies were tallied at 193.9 billion won.
The government also introduced progress on promoting CVC system improvements and this year's policy direction on the day. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) plans to create open innovation funds focusing on strategic industries such as bio, defense, and cosmetics. It is currently discussing the creation of funds of about 250 billion won with around 10 corporations. The selection process for managers is set to begin in the second half.
In addition, starting this month, the Korea Venture Investment Corporation will operate an "open innovation venture fund" that links follow-on investments when large and mid-sized domestic and overseas corporations invest as they pursue open innovation with startups. The fund provides a put option on part of the investment equity to investing corporations and startups, structuring it to promote open innovation.
Kim Do-han, CEO of CJ Investment and the new chairperson of the CVC council, said, "In a rapidly changing global market environment, activating CVCs is not a choice but a necessity."
Kim Bong-deok, venture policy director at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), said, "CVCs are establishing themselves as a key bridge connecting startups' innovation and industry," and noted, "We will continue to support the activation of a cooperative ecosystem between industry and startups."