Korea’s twelve designated new industry sectors attracted KRW 5.2 trillion (USD 3.47 billion) in venture capital in 2025 — 76% of the country’s total venture investment of KRW 6.8 trillion (USD 4.53 billion). The figures reflect a sustained investor preference for high-growth emerging technologies, which have consistently captured around 80% of all venture capital over the past five years.
The twelve sectors span AI models and infrastructure, semiconductors, mobility, security and quantum technologies, robotics, healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, content, defense and aerospace, eco-friendly industries, energy and nuclear power, and advanced manufacturing. Companies within these categories averaged KRW 3.39 billion (USD 2.26 million) per company — roughly 1.7 times the KRW 1.91 billion (USD 1.27 million) average seen in other sectors.
AI models and infrastructure topped the rankings at KRW 1.3 trillion (USD 867 million), or 19.6% of new industry investment. Content, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing each crossed the trillion-won threshold as well. Year-on-year growth was strongest in life sciences and pharmaceuticals (+35.4%), defense and aerospace (+19.2%), and mobility (+16.5%). Energy and nuclear power saw the steepest decline at -55.2%.
Some 87.7% of new industry investment went to follow-on rounds, reflecting investor preference for backing known portfolio companies over first-time bets. Among larger deals, 131 of 158 companies raising KRW 10 billion or more were in new industry sectors. All six companies that raised KRW 50 billion or more were in new industries — two of them in AI.
The capital region — Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon — absorbed 79.1% of new industry venture investment at KRW 4.1 trillion (USD 2.73 billion). Outside the capital, Daejeon attracted KRW 391.3 billion (USD 261 million) driven by life sciences, while South Gyeongnam drew KRW 107.1 billion (USD 71.4 million) concentrated in defense and aerospace.
