Woori Bank to Invest 460 Billion Won in 35 Mid-Sized Firms Under Rising Leaders Program

Woori Bank said April 19 it has finalized the selection of 35 companies for the seventh cohort of the Rising Leaders 300 program, a financing initiative run with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and will begin full support.
 
Rising Leaders 300 is designed to identify mid-sized companies with strong technology and growth potential and provide what the bank calls “productive” financial support. Woori Bank and the ministry have jointly operated the program since 2023.
 
The seventh cohort was chosen after a recruitment notice in March, recommendations from four agencies under the ministry and a review by Woori Bank. The final list includes Dr. Ag, Jahwa Electronics, Silicon2 and Powermax, among 35 mid-sized firms.

Through cohorts one through six, Woori Bank selected 190 companies and provided about 1.8 trillion won in support.

For the seventh cohort, the bank plans support totaling about 460 billion won. Selected companies will be eligible for up to 30 billion won each, along with an interest-rate discount of up to 1.0 percentage point in the first year. The bank also plans to offer nonfinancial services such as export-import finance solutions and digital transformation consulting.
 
“Our goal is to provide practical financial benefits so mid-sized companies with growth potential can take the next step in global markets,” said Park Hwa-geun, a deputy general manager in Woori Bank’s corporate sales strategy division. “We will continue productive financial support to help secure future growth engines for mid-sized companies and contribute to adding vitality to the Korean economy,” he said.