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Asan Nanum Foundation
The Asan Nanum Foundation was established in 2011 by the Hyundai family to mark the tenth anniversary of Chung Ju-yung's death. Chung Mong-joon served as...
Asan Nanum Foundation
The Asan Nanum Foundation was established in 2011 by the Hyundai family to mark the tenth anniversary of Chung Ju-yung's death. Chung Mong-joon served as primary donor. The foundation focuses on entrepreneurship programs and operates physical hubs including MARU 180 and MARU 360. Capital deployment spans early-stage venture, seed, and expansion rounds. The Chung Ju-yung Angel Investment Fund has backed 53 funds and accelerators. Confirmed positions include SparkLabs as a limited partner and public equity in HD Hyundai Co., Ltd., HD Hyundai Electric Co., Ltd., and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. Activity centers on South Korea with additional exposure through the planned Maru SF hub in San Mateo, California. The foundation employs 73 professionals and maintains membership in the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network and NVIDIA Inception VC Alliance. Um Yoon-mi was appointed chairperson in 2024. November 2024: sponsored the Chung Ju-yung Startup Competition in Seoul. Governance ties the foundation directly to Hyundai family members through named directors and the initial 500 billion KRW endowment, creating a succession-linked structure that channels operating-company wealth into nonprofit venture programs without external LP capital.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2011
Location
Region
Asia
Country
South Korea
City
Seoul
Corporate office
3F, MARU360 Building, 790-4 Yeoksam-dong, 172 Yeoksam-ro Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Principals
Um Yoon-mi
Chairperson
Chung Nam-i
Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Asan Nanum Foundation?
Um Yoon-mi serves as chairperson. Chung Nam-i sits on the board as director. Decisions flow through the foundation's internal programs and the Chung Ju-yung Angel Investment Fund.
Does Asan Nanum Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation operates a fund-of-funds vehicle that has invested in 53 funds and accelerators. It also makes direct ownership investments in selected startups through its competition and incubation programs.
What investment stages does Asan Nanum Foundation typically target?
Activity centers on early-stage seed and startup rounds with some expansion exposure. Ticket sizes range from $5,000 to $200,000 per the foundation's disclosed parameters.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The foundation received its initial 500 billion KRW endowment from the Hyundai family and affiliates. Chung Mong-joon acted as the primary donor.
How is Asan Nanum Foundation related to Hyundai entities?
The foundation holds long equity positions in HD Hyundai Co., Ltd., HD Hyundai Electric Co., Ltd., and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering as of late 2024 and early 2025.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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