# South Korean financial support for strategic industries > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-financial-support-for-strategic-industries > Updated: 2026-08-12T02:10:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. South Korean financial institutions and investment managers are increasingly prioritizing long-term support for strategic industries. Korea Investment Management CEO Bae Jae-gyu has advocated for long-term investment in sectors driving structural growth, such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear power, through the launch of the ‘ACE Semiconductor Plus Strategic Industry ETF.’ Following this trend, major domestic banks are expanding credit to these sectors. KB Kookmin Bank has implemented a 10 trillion won preferential interest rate program to support export companies and new technology firms. Similarly, Woori Bank has allocated 16.3 trillion won toward ‘productive finance,’ targeting nine advanced industries including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, secondary batteries, bio-technology, and defense, with a focus on supporting the entire supply chain. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-12: South Korean banks expand lending to strategic industries South Korean banks KB Kookmin and Woori are aggressively expanding ‘productive finance,’ directing trillions of won toward strategic industries like AI, semiconductors, and defense to drive industrial growth. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-banks-expand-lending-to-strategic-industries ### 2026-08-10: Korea Investment Management CEO promotes long-term strategic industry investment Korea Investment Management CEO Bae Jae-gyu advocates for long-term investment in strategic sectors like semiconductors, defense, and nuclear power via the new ACE Semiconductor Plus Strategic Industry ETF. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/korea-investment-management-ceo-promotes-long-term-strategic-industry-investment --- Cite as: South Korean financial support for strategic industries. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-financial-support-for-strategic-industries