Largest-ever Investment

 

It has been found that the total venture investment in Korea hit a new high last year based on increases in both the numbers of venture investors and funds. The number of startup investors showed the largest increase since 2000 as well and the rate of return of matured funds tripled compared to five years ago.

The Small & Medium Business Administration announced on January 19 that the total venture investment reached 2.0858 trillion won last year, up 27.2% from a year earlier. The previous high was 2.0211 trillion won, recorded in 2000. The number of the beneficiaries of the investment increased from 901 to 1,045 between 2014 and 2015, too.

Likewise, the amount of the venture funds raised last year and the number of associations organized for the purpose last year increased by 1.6% and 34.1% to 2.6260 trillion won and 110, respectively. This can be attributed to a rapid increase in the number of private venture fund investors from 352 to 498. By industry, an investment of 573.8 billion won went to information and communications, followed by 436.4 billion won in cultural content, 340.7 billion won in manufacturing in general, 313.7 billion won in bioengineering and 302.3 billion won in service.

Last year, a total of 14 startup investors were newly registered in Korea. This number is the largest since 2000, when it amounted to 65. In addition, the investment venture capitals recovered by means of investment asset disposal last year jumped 30.7% from a year ago to 1.0219 trillion won. 36.5% of it was based on stock sale and redemption while IPO and bond sale and redemption accounted for 27.2% and 15.8%, respectively.

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