Home > IT/기술 > Government Invests ₩250 Billion in AI Chip Firm Rebellion, Catalyzing ₩600 Billion Public-Private Joint Investment

Government Invests ₩250 Billion in AI Chip Firm Rebellion, Catalyzing ₩600 Billion Public-Private Joint Investment

The South Korean government's support for the AI semiconductor industry kicks off with a ₩250 billion direct investment in domestic AI chip firm Rebellion, catalyzing a total public-private funding of ₩600 billion.

IT_기술 2026-03-28 IT/기술

The South Korean government has embarked on a full-scale effort to secure leadership in AI semiconductors by making a large-scale investment in domestic artificial intelligence (AI) chip company Rebellion. On the 26th, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) approved a direct investment of ₩250 billion in Rebellion at a meeting of the National Growth Fund Management Review Committee. This marks the first direct investment through the National Growth Fund, bringing the total large-scale investment in Rebellion to ₩600 billion, combining an additional ₩50 billion from the Korea Development Bank (KDB) and ₩300 billion from private investors. Artificial intelligence, at the heart of technological advancement, has become a critical component of almost all industries and national strategies today. AI semiconductors, in particular, are growing in importance daily as they dramatically improve data processing speeds and enhance the accuracy of machine learning. In this context, the government's investment decision clearly demonstrates its commitment to fostering national technological ecosystem development, going beyond merely supporting a single company. The National Growth Fund plans to acquire ₩250 billion worth of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (RCPS) through its Advanced Strategic Industry Fund. RCPS are preferred shares that can be converted into common shares or redeemed after a certain period, representing an investment method that considers both investor protection and corporate growth. This signifies a new approach, distinct from past methods of supporting the technology sector. While indirect policy fund management was common in the past, this case holds special significance as the government, recognizing the importance of the AI semiconductor sector, has undertaken an unprecedented large-scale direct investment. An official from the Financial Services Commission stated, "AI semiconductors are one of the core industries that will determine Korea's future growth engine," adding, "Under the recognition that excellent domestic AI chip companies must survive and leap forward in global competition, we have made an unprecedented large-scale investment not seen in existing policy funds." This statement clearly demonstrates the government's strong will to strengthen Korea's technological independence and competitiveness in the AI semiconductor sector. This investment embodies a long-term goal of forming an industrial and technological ecosystem, aiming for sustainable technological self-reliance rather than short-term results. Rebellion is regarded as one of the most promising AI semiconductor startups in South Korea. Its current corporate value is estimated at approximately ₩2.7 trillion (about $1.9 billion), and it is leading the development of Neural Processing Units (NPUs) and next-generation AI semiconductors. NPUs are processors specialized for AI computations, a core technology capable of efficiently processing complex neural network operations like deep learning. Rebellion plans to concentrate the funds secured through this investment on the development of NPUs and next-generation AI semiconductors. In addition to this investment, Rebellion aims to pursue an Initial Public Offering (IPO) by next year at the latest. It is widely expected to make a more significant mark in both domestic and international markets in the future. Through the IPO, it is anticipated that Rebellion will secure additional capital and further strengthen its market position. In this context, an FSC official stated that this investment and support are recognized as a necessary strategic choice for securing the future growth engine of the Korean economy. Investment and Technological Hegemony Competition Centered on Rebellion The government's investment decision is leading to subsequent private sector investments. The Korea Development Bank (KDB) will provide an additional ₩50 billion, and private investment firms have also committed an extra ₩300 billion, pledging full cooperation with Rebellion. Major domestic investors, including Mirae Asset Group, No & Partners, IMM Investment, and InterVest, have announced their large-scale participation in Rebellion's funding. Notably, Mirae Asset Life Insurance officially approved the investment in Rebellion at its board meeting, expressing its active intent to participate. The involvement of these investors is interpreted as an acknowledgment of Rebellion's potential to become a major player in the industry. This large-scale joint investment of ₩600 billion (approximately $430 million) by both government and private sectors is not merely an investment in a single company. It is drawing significant attention as it lays the groundwork for South Korea to secure global competitiveness in the critical future technology of AI semiconductors and to advance further in the technological hegemony competition. This large-scale investment through public-private cooperation is expected to play a de