"Everyone Invests in Hanwoo to Create Productive Value"

StockKeeper CEO Ahn Jae-hyun, a Platform Connecting Farmers and Investors

Ahn Jae-hyun, CEO of Stockeeper

The perception we have about Hanwoo is that it is "expensive," and the natural follow-up question is how to enjoy delicious Hanwoo at an affordable price. There is a startup that has come up with a solution to this common dilemma. ‘Stockkeeper’ operates the platform ‘Bankau,’ which connects farmers and investors to allow investment in Hanwoo as an asset. Stockkeeper’s solution is to transform the limited environment where Hanwoo can only be raised through loans into one where productivity can be increased through investments. Will we be able to enjoy Hanwoo at a more affordable price? We spoke in detail with CEO Ahn Jaehyun.

On the 5th, CEO Ahn said, "We aim to create a new livestock investment ecosystem within the 22 trillion won domestic cattle farming market." What caught his attention was the problem in the existing Hanwoo distribution market. According to Stockkeeper, although the total beef consumption in South Korea has grown by more than 60% compared to 10 years ago, Hanwoo production has stagnated. CEO Ahn explained, "South Korea has artificially controlled supply without considering the growth in beef demand. While supply remained the same, the consumer base expanded, causing Hanwoo prices to continuously rise." He added that if production had been supported and supply increased, Hanwoo could have been enjoyed at a lower price than now.

◆A Platform for Direct Investment in Hanwoo=Stockkeeper launched a platform that allows Hanwoo farmers to raise business funds through investments rather than high-interest loans to increase productivity. Although Hanwoo is actively consumed, it has been difficult for individuals to invest. Raising even one cow requires manpower, permits, land, barns, feed, and considerable time and effort. Bankau bypasses these steps and connects investors directly to invest in Hanwoo, according to CEO Ahn.

This business model reflects CEO Ahn’s personal experience. His mother operated a Hanwoo ranch in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, but due to capital constraints, only 30-40% of the breeding space was used. Starting in March 2018, CEO Ahn purchased one cow every month with surplus funds and placed them on the ranch. Since last year, he has directly confirmed that once the Hanwoo mature and are shipped, profits are generated without delays. He said, "I devised the Hanwoo investment system hoping that more people could achieve stable returns through Hanwoo investment, and that idle funds in the market would flow into productive markets creating and distributing value, rather than speculative ones."

Accordingly, stable profit generation is a key advantage of Bankau promoted by Stockkeeper. CEO Ahn explained, "Unlike stocks that can incur losses, Hanwoo can generate growth and profits by adding productive value. The Hanwoo invested in are 100% sold through nationwide auctions, and from asset acquisition to the completion of breeding, 100% of the purchase amount is guaranteed by livestock disaster insurance and the farmers’ own guarantees, eliminating the risk of default or insolvency."

◆Expectations for Increased Productivity of Hanwoo Farms=The expanded breeding space from modernization projects is expected to be fully utilized, leading to increased productivity. CEO Ahn said, "During on-site inspections, farms in Gyeonggi Province were only using 35-40% of their barns, and farms in Gangwon and Jeolla provinces had many empty barns. Due to capital constraints, farmers themselves could not utilize the breeding space, but Bankau can increase the number of cattle through Hanwoo funding and maximize space utilization."

Bankau demonstrated its growth potential through funding conducted this year. Approximately 450 million won was invested in Hanwoo through three rounds of funding, and the third round was closed on the same day due to high interest. CEO Ahn emphasized, "Our goal is to expand into a platform that connects production to consumption. This year, we are focusing on expanding and matching producers and investors, targeting small-scale farms with fewer than 50 cattle, which account for more than half of the market, to grow the market."