Financial Investment Industry Launches ISA-Linked Independence Preparation Youth Sponsorship Program

On July 28, the Korea Financial Investment Association officially launched the "ISA-Linked Independence Preparation Youth Sponsorship Program" in collaboration with 11 securities companies.

This is the nation’s first social contribution project to introduce an investment-type sponsorship model utilizing the Individual Savings Account (ISA), supporting asset building and economic independence for young people preparing for self-reliance. The goal is to provide practical support for economic independence by enabling young people, who are starting life on their own after leaving protective care, to gain experience in financial investment.

The 11 participating securities firms?Daol Investment & Securities, Meritz Securities, Shinhan Investment & Securities, Yuanta Securities, Kiwoom Securities, Hana Securities, Hyundai Motor Securities, DB Financial Investment, IBK Investment & Securities, KB Securities, and NH Investment & Securities (listed in alphabetical order)?will provide approximately 800 million won over three years to support 72 young people.

Each securities company will contribute a set monthly amount to an ISA account opened in the name of the youth for three years. The young participants will manage these funds, developing their investment capabilities and planning their own assets.

This year, 72 young people were selected as the first group. The financial investment industry plans to select at least the same number of new participants each year and gradually expand the number of participating companies.

The core of the program is not just simple financial support, but systematic assistance for sustainable independence through financial education content, mentoring, and internship opportunities. The sponsoring companies will help young people enhance their financial literacy, investment decision-making, and career planning skills.

The CEO of one of the sponsoring securities firms stated, "I am pleased to participate in this project supporting youth independence," and added, "We will contribute to developing this journey, which began with the ISA, into a shared social contribution model for the financial industry."

Seo Yuseok, Chairman of the Korea Financial Investment Association, said, "It is unfortunate that, due to the current ISA age restriction, we cannot provide benefits to children and adolescents under 19 in protective facilities," emphasizing the need for institutional improvements and greater social attention to this issue.

The financial investment industry aims to establish this as a leading example of a 'warm capital market,' and plans to expand the scale of the project by recruiting additional sponsors starting next year.