73 Trillion Won for Productive Finance, 7 Trillion Won for Inclusive Finance
Investment and Lending Support for Advanced Strategic Industries Including AI, Biotechnology, and Defense
Im Jongryong, chairman of Woori Financial Group, held the "Woori Financial Future Co-Growth Project CEO Joint Briefing" at the headquarters on the morning of the 29th and explained measures to promote it. Woori Financial Group
Woori Financial Group will invest a total of 80 trillion won over the next five years to drive a transition toward productive finance and expand inclusive finance. The group also announced that it will participate in the National Growth Fund, a government-led initiative, with a 10 trillion won commitment-the first such participation by the private sector-demonstrating its proactive approach to public-private cooperation for economic recovery.
On September 29, Woori Financial Group announced that Chairman Im Jongryong personally hosted the "Woori Financial Future Co-Growth Project CEO Joint Briefing," where he unveiled plans to allocate 73 trillion won to productive finance and 7 trillion won to inclusive finance.
Woori Financial Group explained that this project was prepared out of a sense of urgency not to miss the golden opportunity for economic recovery and growth, as well as a commitment to fulfilling the fundamental role of finance in supporting productive and inclusive finance. The group emphasized its readiness to implement the project immediately.
The briefing was attended by Chairman Im Jongryong, Bank CEO Jeong Jinwan, Securities CEO Nam Gicheon, Insurance (ABL) CEO Kwak Heepil, Savings Bank CEO Lee Seoktae, Asset Management CEO Choi Seungjae, Venture Partners CEO Kim Changgyu, Private Equity CEO Kang Singuk, and other CEOs of subsidiaries. They collectively expressed their determination for all subsidiaries and employees to participate sincerely in the initiative.
A Turning Point for a New Era... The First 10 Trillion Won Private Sector Commitment to the National Growth Fund
Participants, including Eunok Lee, Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, who attended the 'Financial Transformation Conference' held at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul on the 19th, are taking a commemorative photo. 2025.09.19 Photo by Dongjoo Yoon
Woori Financial Group recognizes that the current situation requires overcoming a low-growth phase and creating a turning point toward a new era. Accordingly, the group has decided to actively promote a transition to productive finance, including fostering advanced strategic industries.
The group cited several key drivers for this project: enhancing the growth potential of companies and national competitiveness; leveraging its strengths as a leading provider of corporate finance to achieve co-growth with businesses; and fulfilling social responsibilities such as supporting financially vulnerable groups, small business owners, and protecting financial consumers.
Under the "Woori Financial Future Co-Growth Project," Woori Financial Group will execute a total of 80 trillion won by 2030, allocating 73 trillion won to productive finance and 7 trillion won to inclusive finance over five years.
The productive finance portion consists of 10 trillion won for participation in the National Growth Fund, 7 trillion won in group-led investments, and 56 trillion won in loans. Of note, the 10 trillion won commitment to the National Growth Fund is the first private sector initiative since President Lee Jaemyung announced a 150 trillion won target for the fund at a national briefing on August 10. This commitment represents about 13% of the combined 75 trillion won from private and national funds.
The 7 trillion won in group-led investments will be deployed through three channels: a 1 trillion won group co-investment fund, 1 trillion won in venture capital investments led by the securities subsidiary, and 5 trillion won in productive finance funds managed by the asset management subsidiary.
The group co-investment fund will be operated by asset management subsidiaries such as Woori Asset Management, using capital pooled from subsidiaries including the bank, securities, insurance, card, and capital companies. Investments will be made through various methods, including direct and indirect lending and investment, creation of private mother funds, and sub-fund investments. The target sectors are the top ten advanced strategic industries, including AI, biotechnology, and defense.
In particular, Woori Investment & Securities will expand its capital base to provide a total of 1 trillion won in venture capital over five years, tailored to the growth stages of advanced strategic industry companies-from early-stage startups to scaling up, pre-IPO, and IPO.
Chairman Im stated, "We have carefully considered what Woori Financial Group does best, and we are determined to play a pioneering role in future co-growth. We will not limit ourselves to loan supply or rely solely on interest income, but will expand our function to invest in advanced industries and drive growth engines."
Total 56 Trillion Won in Loans... 19 Trillion for K-Tech, 16 Trillion for Regional High-Tech Companies, and More
The 56 trillion won in loans will be distributed as follows: 19 trillion won for the K-Tech program, 16 trillion won for fostering advanced strategic industries in regional areas, 11 trillion won for supporting innovative venture companies, 7 trillion won for supporting export companies in key national industries, and 3 trillion won for nurturing high-skilled talent in quality small and medium-sized enterprises and providing financial support to small business owners.
The K-Tech program is designed to complete the domestic "K-Tech Value Chain" through finance by connecting core leading companies (including large enterprises) in advanced strategic industries such as AI, biotechnology, and defense, with mid-sized, small, and venture companies.
The 16 trillion won allocated to fostering advanced strategic industries in regional areas aims to overcome the concentration of economic activity in the Seoul metropolitan area and contribute to balanced regional development by supporting outstanding local technology companies.
For export companies in key national industries, 7 trillion won will be provided by expanding credit backed by Korea Trade Insurance Corporation guarantees, along with preferential foreign exchange fees and interest rates for high-quality import and export businesses.
To activate these loan programs, new products are being launched or planned. Starting this month, Woori Bank has become the first in the banking sector to offer the "Woori Co-Growth Tomorrow Savings Plan," which helps employees of small and medium-sized enterprises accumulate significant savings by subsidizing part of their contributions. In October, the group plans to launch the "Woori Venture Business Growth Loan," among other initiatives to meet the diverse needs of corporate clients.
Support for 550,000 Small Business Owners and Vulnerable Groups Over Five Years
The 7 trillion won for inclusive finance will be allocated as follows: expansion of co-growth finance including microfinance loans (7 trillion won); financial support for small business owners through contributions to co-growth and guaranteed loan funds (48 billion won); and government-linked programs such as support for bad banks (100 billion won).
The number of "Small Business Comprehensive Support Centers" will be increased from the current six to eleven, further strengthening on-site, face-to-face support. Preferential interest rates for microfinance products will also be expanded. Through these efforts, Woori Financial Group aims to provide warm and inclusive finance to a total of 550,000 small business owners and vulnerable individuals over five years, supporting 110,000 people each year.
In particular, for new customers with external credit ratings (CB) of grade 7 or below, a new 0.3 percentage point interest rate reduction will be applied. For existing customers with strong repayment records, those with internal bank credit ratings (CSS) of grades 4 to 7 will receive a 0.4 percentage point reduction, and those with CSS grades 8 or below will receive a 1.5 percentage point reduction, actively working to reduce financial costs.
The group also plans to further strengthen financial consumer protection. In July, a Consumer Protection Office was established directly under the chairman, the term of the Chief Consumer Protection Officer was set at two years, and the board of directors was given authority over appointments and dismissals, thereby reinforcing the financial consumer protection governance system.
Additionally, the newly established "Financial Fraud Prevention Department" at the bank is the first dedicated department in the banking sector for preventing financial fraud. Its mission is to proactively respond to various financial crimes, including voice phishing.
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