# Korea Federation of SMEs

Korea Federation of SMEs is a Government / Public Body based in Seoul, South Korea.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Government / Public Body
- **Headquarters:** Seoul, South Korea
- **Region:** Asia
- **Address:** 30 Eunhaeng-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- **Founded:** 1962
- **Assets under management:** $20B–$50B (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** kbiz.or.kr
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-federation-of-smes

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Korea Federation of SMEs is a government agency based in Seoul, South Korea. It manages approximately $17.6 billion in assets, primarily focused on the Asia region.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Private Credit
- Infrastructure
- Secondaries & Special Situations

## People

- Kim Ki-mun — Chairman

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the Korea Federation of SMEs?

Chairman Kim Ki-mun has led the organization for more than two decades and exercises ultimate authority over strategic asset allocation. Day-to-day investment decisions are delegated to internal investment committees, though the specific composition of those committees is not publicly disclosed. The federation operates under the oversight of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, but its investment mandates are executed independently.

### What is the Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid Fund, and what does it invest in?

The Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid Fund is a compulsory retirement savings program for owners and employees of Korean small and medium enterprises. Its portfolio includes direct real estate holdings, blind-pool real estate fund commitments, private credit allocations, and select infrastructure co-investments. The fund functions as a de facto pension pool for a constituency that falls outside the Korean National Pension Service's direct coverage.

### How does KBIZ source investment opportunities?

KBIZ's deal flow arrives through two channels that outside asset managers cannot easily replicate: its statutory relationships with government ministries, and its member network of over 6 million SME owners and employees. The federation's 2023 partnership with the Korean American Chamber of Commerce USA has opened an additional sourcing lane for cross-border opportunities that support Korean SME expansion into North American markets.

### Is KBIZ a pension fund, a trade association, or something else?

It is both — a statutory body created by the Small and Medium Enterprises Cooperatives Act that blends trade-association advocacy with institutional asset management. This dual identity means KBIZ can originate deals through policy relationships while deploying capital at pension scale, a combination that venture firms and private equity funds cannot replicate.

### Does KBIZ invest outside South Korea?

Yes, though international exposure remains a smaller allocation relative to its domestic portfolio. The 2023 partnership with the Korean American Chamber of Commerce USA signals an intent to expand cross-border activity, particularly in real estate and direct investments that support Korean SME entry into the United States market.

### What real estate assets does KBIZ hold directly?

KBIZ owns the KBIZ Headquarters Building at 30 Eunhaeng-ro in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and the DMC Tower in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu. It also holds commitments to domestic blind-pool real estate funds that invest across commercial property sectors in South Korea.

## Related profiles

- [Korea Electronics Technology Institute](https://altss.com/profile/korea-electronics-technology-institute)
- [Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology](https://altss.com/profile/korea-institute-for-advancement-of-technology)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/korea-federation-of-smes

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