South Korean VCs grow increasingly aggressive in fast-growing SE Asia

Opportunities for mutual benefits are great, but local branding needs work

A mural at the Google Campus startup space in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea, which offers work spaces and mentoring for young Asian tech entrepreneurs. © Reuters

ARDI WIRDANA and NGUYEN THI BICH NGOC, DealStreetAsia

October 9, 2019 15:02 JST

JAKARTA/HANOI -- When South Korean President Moon Jae-in unveiled a new policy in 2017 to deepen the country's ties with Southeast Asia, it spurred a new vigor among the country's companies to do business in the fast-growing region.

South Korea started to see many companies from a variety of sectors setting their sights on Southeast Asia. Not least among them, its venture capitalists.