South Korea Plans to Inject Semiconductor Windfall Taxes into Sovereign Wealth Fund, Expanding Seed Capital to Nearly $20 Billion

Odaily reported that the South Korean government plans to inject some of the excess tax revenue from the semiconductor industry boom in cash into a new sovereign wealth fund set to launch in the second half of this year. The fund originally planned to raise 20 trillion won through in-kind contributions, such as government-held shares in state-owned enterprises, but has now decided to add several trillion won in cash, expanding its seed capital to nearly 30 trillion won (approximately $20 billion).

The fund is a growth-oriented fund aimed at making medium to long-term investments in promising companies at the growth stage within South Korea's strategic industries. The relevant establishment bill is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly in June, with the funds included in the 2027 budget proposal.