KB Financial Group launches 1500‑billion‑won Unicorn fund for AI, semiconductors and other advanced industries

KB Financial Group announced the creation of a 1.5‑trillion‑won (1500 billion KRW) Unicorn Scale‑up Fund, fully funded by its affiliates and managed by the PE Growth Investment Division of KB Securities. The fund will invest in high‑growth “unicorn” companies operating in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, secondary batteries, aerospace, mobility, robotics and biotechnology.

The initiative was disclosed at the group’s 4th Productive Finance Council on 24 July 2026. Executives said the fund will complement policy‑finance projects and the group’s broader strategy to expand financing for advanced‑technology sectors, including physical AI and AI data‑centers. KB Financial will also broaden integrated loan, investment and capital‑market support via its CIB centers nationwide and shift credit‑assessment criteria from historic financials toward future‑value metrics. A new “Advanced‑Strategy‑Industry Study Forum” will bring together research, sales and risk‑assessment teams to deepen sector knowledge.

Kim Sung‑hyun, head of the CIB market division, emphasized that the fund aligns with Korea’s three mega‑project growth strategy and reflects the social role of finance in driving the country’s next leap forward.