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Photo courtesy of Hanwha Asset Management |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] SEOUL / ABU DHABI, Dec. 8 — Marcy Venture Partners — the investment firm co-founded by U.S. rapper and global pop icon Jay-Z — is partnering with South Korea’s Hanwha Asset Management to launch a $500 million (approx. KRW 735 billion) private equity fund centered on K-culture.
The collaboration marks the first large-scale global investment explicitly targeting the global growth potential of K-pop, Korean content, and the broader Korean lifestyle industry.
According to Hanwha Asset Management and the Financial Times, the two firms signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025 in the United Arab Emirates. Building on the agreement, the partners plan to begin fundraising in the second half of next year from institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and high-net-worth individuals.
Leveraging its past experience investing in global consumer brands — including the minimalist beauty company Merit Beauty — Marcy Venture Partners will focus on identifying and managing promising companies in lifestyle, fashion, and food sectors.
Hanwha Asset Management will serve as a strategic partner by applying its analytical expertise and investment-structuring capabilities in the Asian market to support Korean and regional companies in their global expansion.
Robbie Robinson, CEO and Managing Partner of Marcy Venture Partners, said:
“Korea is the cultural hub of Asia, shaping global trends in beauty, content, food, entertainment, and lifestyle. Our partnership with Hanwha creates an ideal gateway for discovering transformative companies and global investment opportunities across the region.”
Hanwha Asset Management CEO Kim Jong-ho remarked:
“K-culture and the lifestyle sector are leading global consumer trends. This partnership establishes a solid foundation for Asian companies to accelerate their entry into global markets.”
The new fund is expected to inject significant capital into Korea’s booming cultural industries — including K-pop, beauty, and entertainment — and help accelerate their expansion across global markets.
알파경제 Paul Lee 특파원(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
