According to the “2024 Domestic Venture Investment and Fund Formation Trends” report released by Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) on the 12th, the total venture investment in Korea last year amounted to approximately $8.95 billion (KRW 11.9 trillion). This represents a 47.5% increase compared to the pre-COVID-19 period (2020) and a 9.5% rise from the previous year, marking the first rebound since 2021 and signaling a continuation of long-term growth.  

Globally, venture investment declined 17.1% compared to 2020 and 0.1% year-over-year, highlighting Korea’s stronger recovery compared to the global market. Looking at quarterly trends, Q4 investment volume increased by 5% from Q3. The investment flow in 2024 was as follows: Q1 – $1.5 billion (KRW 2.0 trillion), Q2 – $2.63 billion (KRW 3.5 trillion), Q3 – $2.4 billion (KRW 3.2 trillion), and Q4 – $2.48 billion (KRW 3.3 trillion). This trend remains positive, with Q4 figures exceeding the five-year (2020–2024) quarterly average of $2.25 billion (KRW 3.0 trillion) by 10%.  

By industry, investment in ICT services surged 38% year-over-year, driven by growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI). In contrast, investment in video, performance, and music declined by 23.7%.  

In 2024, the total amount of venture funds raised reached $7.97 billion (KRW 10.6 trillion), reflecting a 5.7% increase from 2020. Meanwhile, global venture fund formation shrank by 52.6%, showing that Korea’s venture fund formation remains solid despite global market trends.  

To further accelerate the domestic venture investment market’s recovery, the Korean government is taking proactive measures. MSS plans to announce the Fund of Funds’ full 2025 budget of $750 million (KRW 1 trillion) in January, ensuring an early injection of capital. Additionally, the government is significantly expanding policy-driven fund investments, particularly in early-stage startups and regional ventures.  

Minister Oh Young-joo stated, “Despite challenging global market conditions, Korea’s venture investment market continues to show steady growth in 2024. We will remain committed to implementing the ‘Advanced Venture Investment Market Development Plan’ announced in October, easing regulations based on field feedback, and striving to build a world-class venture investment ecosystem.”