Financial Committee Chairman Li Yiyuan stated that the National Growth Fund, with a scale of 150 trillion won, has prioritized selecting seven projects such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and secondary batteries as the first batch of large-scale investment targets. The government plans to use this to accelerate regional economic vitality and build a future growth foundation centered on cutting-edge industries.
Chairman Li reported directly on December 19, 2025, at the presidential work briefing held at the government's Seoul office, regarding the selection of the National Growth Fund's first supported targets. He anticipates that this decision will have a significant economic ripple effect on the entire industrial ecosystem and particularly emphasizes that, in the new economic environment of digital transformation and carbon neutrality, this move will help South Korea secure its competitiveness.
The National Growth Fund is a large investment fund designed by the government, which will raise 30 trillion won each year for 5 years starting in 2026, with a total scale of 150 trillion won. Its operational purpose is to enhance the overall technological competitiveness of the country by concentrating investments in cutting-edge strategic industries such as AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and robotics, while also strengthening the ecosystem of related industries. The goal is not only to support enterprises but also to include comprehensive structural reorganization involving related R&D, talent cultivation, and expanding regional networks.
One of the important features of the fund is to achieve a balanced distribution of funds across regions. It plans to allocate more than 40% of the total investment amount to local areas, aiming to disperse the industrial base concentrated in the capital region across the country and inject vitality into the regional economy.
In addition, Chairman Li also stated that he will promote a fund model that allows direct participation from the public simultaneously. The intention is to design a method of investment return that not only flows to specific enterprises or institutions but also shares the growth results with ordinary citizens. This can be understood as aiming to improve the accessibility of the capital market and create a trustworthy investment culture.
This trend can be interpreted as a signal that the future industrial policy of the South Korean government will not be limited to short-term results but will also simultaneously promote the dual goals of ensuring long-term technological sovereignty and balanced regional development. It is expected that as the follow-up measures of the National Growth Fund proceed, the reactions of related industries and financial markets will gradually become more specific.