Key Takeaways
- • The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) launched the 131.3 billion won Jeonnam-Gwangju Regional Growth Fund on November 11, 2026, at National Suncheon University, after completing limited partner recruitment.
- • The mother fund commits 75 billion won, with Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, the cities of Yeosu, Suncheon and Gwangyang, IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, Kwangju Bank, NH Nonghyup Bank, Hana Bank, local universities and companies participating.
- • The fund is the final regional fund-of-funds of the year, following North Jeolla, Ulsan, Daejeon and Daegu-North Gyeongsang, and is described as the largest integrated regional fund-of-funds in the country.
- • A sub-fund commitment program is scheduled to begin in December, with the partners aiming to raise an additional venture fund of about 200 billion won.
- • Korea Venture Investment Corporation opened its Southwest Region Investment Center in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, the second regional hub after Busan Southeast.
Summary
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 11th that it has completed recruiting limited partners for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Regional Growth Fund, a 131.3 billion won vehicle designed to foster ventures and startups in the Jeonnam-Gwangju area. The launch event took place at National Suncheon University, and the ministry said full-scale fund formation will now begin.
The fund is the final regional fund-of-funds of the year, following similar vehicles in North Jeolla, Ulsan, Daejeon and Daegu-North Gyeongsang. The mother fund will commit 75 billion won. The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, the cities of Yeosu, Suncheon and Gwangyang, IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, Kwangju Bank, NH Nonghyup Bank, Hana Bank, local universities and companies will also participate, bringing the total to 131.3 billion won.
Korea Venture Investment Corporation and the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City will finalize investment sectors through a steering committee of major limited partners, and plan to start a sub-fund commitment program in December. The partners aim to raise an additional venture fund of about 200 billion won through this program.
Alongside the launch, Kwangju Bank, Jeonbuk Bank, Korea Venture Investment Corporation and Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC) signed a productive finance business agreement aimed at vitalizing Southwest region venture funds and the venture ecosystem. The four institutions agreed to build an integrated system linking investment, loans and guarantees. Korea Venture Investment Corporation also opened its Southwest Region Investment Center in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, which will connect local startups with venture capital and support the scouting of promising companies. It is the second regional investment hub after the Busan Southeast Region Investment Center.
The event was held alongside the 2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju Startup Festival on November 11-12, which also included a startup conference, investor relations sessions and a startup competition. MSS First Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok said the fund is a large-scale investment platform created with diverse regional participants and that the ministry will use the regional growth fund and regional investment centers to expand long-term growth capital for ventures and startups.
The fund is the final regional fund-of-funds of the year, following similar vehicles in North Jeolla, Ulsan, Daejeon and Daegu-North Gyeongsang. The mother fund will commit 75 billion won. The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, the cities of Yeosu, Suncheon and Gwangyang, IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, Kwangju Bank, NH Nonghyup Bank, Hana Bank, local universities and companies will also participate, bringing the total to 131.3 billion won.
Korea Venture Investment Corporation and the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City will finalize investment sectors through a steering committee of major limited partners, and plan to start a sub-fund commitment program in December. The partners aim to raise an additional venture fund of about 200 billion won through this program.
Alongside the launch, Kwangju Bank, Jeonbuk Bank, Korea Venture Investment Corporation and Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC) signed a productive finance business agreement aimed at vitalizing Southwest region venture funds and the venture ecosystem. The four institutions agreed to build an integrated system linking investment, loans and guarantees. Korea Venture Investment Corporation also opened its Southwest Region Investment Center in the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, which will connect local startups with venture capital and support the scouting of promising companies. It is the second regional investment hub after the Busan Southeast Region Investment Center.
The event was held alongside the 2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju Startup Festival on November 11-12, which also included a startup conference, investor relations sessions and a startup competition. MSS First Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok said the fund is a large-scale investment platform created with diverse regional participants and that the ministry will use the regional growth fund and regional investment centers to expand long-term growth capital for ventures and startups.
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