IBK Industrial Bank of Korea is significantly expanding its investments in the cultural content sector, strengthening its presence in the K-content ecosystem.

The investment amount, which stood at 21.6 billion won in 2021, more than doubled to 54.9 billion won last year. In the first half of this year, the bank executed 45.6 billion won, recording an all-time high for a half-year period. The cumulative investment in cultural content to date reaches 424.5 billion won.

Dedicated Organization Operated for 12 Years… Data-Driven Investment Decisions

At the center of this growth is the Cultural Content Investment Team, established in 2012. Composed of six members, this team is the only dedicated department among commercial banks that directly invests in cultural content. It selects investment targets through rigorous screening of dozens of film, performance, and exhibition projects each year.

IBK Industrial Bank uses the track records of directors and actors, the quality of completed works, mass appeal, and political or religious bias as evaluation criteria. In particular, based on its film investment experience, the bank has developed its own unique set of standards called an 'investment checklist,' accumulating data for over a decade.

What is particularly interesting is its investment decision-making approach. A 10% bonus is applied to new works by renowned directors who failed in their previous projects, while a 10% penalty is applied to works involving directors or lead actors who have achieved three consecutive box-office hits. Recently, the bank has been refining its checklist to align with market trends, including adding a 10% penalty for 'warehouse films' that have been completed for over a year without release.

Film Box Office Performance Draws Attention… Invested in 12 Films with Over 10 Million Moviegoers

In the film sector, IBK Industrial Bank's performance is overwhelming. It has invested in 12 of the 25 Korean films that have surpassed 10 million moviegoers. It recorded returns of over 100% on 'Extreme Job,' 'The Roundup,' and 'Exhuma,' and has also been involved in blockbusters such as 'Roaring Currents,' 'Ode to My Father,' and 'Along with the Gods 1 and 2.'

In the first half of this year, it achieved a 220% return with 'The Man Living with the King,' and invested films such as 'Kunche' (5.95 million viewers), 'Hope' (4.26 million), and 'Salmokji' (3.24 million) enjoyed consecutive box-office success. In the film industry, there is even an assessment that works invested in by IBK Industrial Bank are a virtual guarantee of box-office success.

Expanding Investment Domain to Musicals and Exhibitions

The investment strategy is expanding beyond films into musicals and art exhibitions. This year alone, the bank has injected funds into major exhibitions such as 'A Night of Impressionism, Paris 1874' and 'Sungryul Special Exhibition: We Who Resemble Summer,' as well as large-scale musicals including 'Lempicka,' 'Dracula,' and 'Frozen.' It has also invested in popular musicals such as 'Aladdin' and 'Wicked.'

Kang Seung-hyun, General Manager of the Cultural Content Team, stated, 'We give high marks to the desperation and originality born from experiences of failure,' adding that the bank plans to continue expanding its cultural investment portfolio to foster the K-content ecosystem.