What KB Asset Management does

KB Asset Management (KB자산운용) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KB Financial Group (KRX: 105560) and one of South Korea's largest asset managers. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Seoul, the firm managed approximately 175 trillion KRW (~US$124 billion) in operating assets as of December 2025, spanning active and index equity funds, fixed income and mixed-asset funds, alternatives, real-estate investment trusts (KBSTAR REIT), infrastructure (KB Balhae Infrastructure, Korea's first domestic infrastructure fund listed December 2024), target-date (KB 온국민 TDF) and target-income (KB 온국민 평생소득 TIF) retirement products, outsourced CIO mandates (KB 타깃리턴 OCIO), and the proprietary RISE ETF and KBSTAR fund brands. Internationally, the firm operates wholly-owned subsidiaries in Singapore (2017), Shanghai (2018), and Vietnam (2019).

Name

KB Asset Management

Legal name

KB자산운용주식회사

Website

https://kbam.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KB Asset Management is a Seoul-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of KB Financial Group managing approximately US$124 billion across active and index funds, ETFs, OCIO, infrastructure, and retirement products for Korean retail and institutional investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (52591)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Cap Equity (Active) (FSAAAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Advisory Portfolio Management (Non-Discretionary) (FSAAABAD)

Keywords

• Asset management services
• Investment fund management
• ETF products
• Pension fund management
• Alternative investments

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fund Management Fees: KB Asset Management earns management fees based on assets under management (AUM) across its fund lineup including equity, fixed income, mixed, alternative, REIT, and ETF products. Total operating assets of approximately 1,750,788 billion KRW as of December 2025.
2. Alternative Investment Management: Revenue from managing alternative investment products including infrastructure funds, real estate, and special asset funds, including KB Balhae Infrastructure REIT listed in December 2024.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KB Asset Management provides professional investment management services, managing equity, fixed income, mixed, alternative, REIT, and ETF fund products. The company operates a broad fund platform including index and active mutual funds, proprietary RISE ETF brand, target-date and target-income pension funds, infrastructure REITs, OCIO services for institutional clients, and an AI-driven robo-advisor for retail investors. Total operating assets of approximately 175 trillion KRW ($124 billion) are distributed through KB Financial Group's bank and securities channels as well as third-party financial institutions.

Product overview

KB Asset Management operates a broad multi-product fund platform covering domestic equities, global equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternatives, infrastructure, ETFs, and pension/target-date solutions. The core product line includes index and active funds across Korean and international markets, such as the KB 스타 코리아 레버리지 series (leveraged/index products), KB스타 미국 나스닥 100 인덱스 (NASDAQ exposure), and the KB스타 series of Korea-focused funds. The RISE ETF sub-brand, launched in July 2024, encompasses thematic ETFs targeting AI, semiconductors, robotics, network infrastructure, and physical AI themes. The KB 온국민 TDF series provides target-date retirement solutions, while KB 온국민 평생소득 TIF products serve retirees seeking income. The firm also offers OCIO (outsourced CIO) solutions (KB 타겟리턴 OCIO), infrastructure investment products (KB 발해인프라), and alternative investment strategies, alongside a robo-advisor service. All products are distributed through KB Financial Group affiliates, major securities firms, and banks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RISE ETF: ETF brand launched in July 2024, offering various exchange-traded fund products including AI, semiconductor, and network infrastructure themed ETFs
• KB스타 (KBSTAR)
• KB 온국민 TDF
• KB 발해인프라
• MYPORT

Products and services

• KB스타 코리아 레버리지2.0 (KBSTAR Korea Leverage 2.0) Leverage fund tracking 2.0x the daily volatility of the KOSPI200 index, designed for amplified returns in rising markets. Domestic very high risk fund.
• KB스타 미국 나스닥 100 인덱스 (KBSTAR US NASDAQ 100 Index) Index fund providing efficient investment in leading U.S. NASDAQ market companies driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with a focus on the IT sector.
• KB스타 코스닥150 인덱스 (KBSTAR KOSDAQ 150 Index) Index fund offering accessible and low-cost exposure to Korea's KOSDAQ market, targeting new growth engine companies listed on the KOSDAQ 150.
• KB스타 코리아 리버스 인덱스 (KBSTAR Korea Reverse Index) Inverse index fund designed to generate returns when the underlying index declines, useful in bearish market conditions.
• KB 온국민 TDF 2020 (KB TDF 2020) Target Date Fund that automatically adjusts portfolio allocation based on the investor's retirement target date, progressively reducing equity exposure as retirement approaches. Total annual fee of 0.360%.
• KB 온국민 평생소득 TIF 20 (KB Lifetime Income TIF 20) Conservative Target Income Fund for retirees, limiting equity exposure to a maximum of 20% and investing partly in global corporate bond funds to prioritize asset preservation.
• KB 온국민 평생소득 TIF 40 (KB Lifetime Income TIF 40) Target Income Fund designed for retirees seeking regular monthly income, maintaining a portfolio of 37.5% equities and 62.5% bonds to preserve accumulated assets while generating steady cash flow.
• KB 온국민 매달받는 평생소득 (KB Monthly Lifetime Income) Monthly income fund designed for post-retirement asset management, providing regular monthly distributions to retirees. Total annual fee of 0.400%.
• KB 디딤 다이내믹 자산배분 (KB Dynamic Asset Allocation) Dynamic asset allocation fund designed for simple diversified investing and solid pension preparation.
• KB 타깃리턴 성장형 OCIO (KB Target Return Growth OCIO) Outsourced CIO (OCIO) product pursuing aggressive asset allocation and efficient risk management through professional management expertise for institutional clients.
• KB 타깃리턴 안정형 OCIO (KB Target Return Stable OCIO) Stable OCIO product focused on capital preservation while seeking steady returns through diversified asset allocation for institutional clients.
• KB 드림스타 자산배분 (KB Dream Star Asset Allocation) Asset allocation fund following a market-tracking strategy through representative market indices across asset classes.
• KB DWS 멀티에셋 와이즈 리턴 (KB DWS Multi-Asset Wise Return) Multi-asset fund investing across diverse asset classes to pursue long-term stable returns.
• RISE ETF Brand Proprietary ETF brand launched by KB Asset Management in July 2024, encompassing a suite of thematic ETFs including AI, semiconductor, robotics, network infrastructure, and China-related products.
• RISE China AI Semiconductor Top 4 Plus ETF ETF tracking the Solactive China AI Semiconductor Top 4 Plus Index, providing exposure to Chinese AI semiconductor companies across four categories: Semiconductor Foundry, AI Chip, Optical Communication Module, and Materials & Equipment.
• RISE Hyundai Motor Fixed Physical AI ETF South Korea's first physical AI ETF, tracking 14 stocks in the physical AI ecosystem including robotics, autonomous driving, and factory automation, with a fixed 25% allocation to Hyundai Motor.
• KBSTAR REIT Real Estate Investment Trust brand under KB Asset Management, providing exposure to real estate markets; KBSTAR REIT was listed on the exchange in 2022.
• KB 발해인프라 (KB Balhae Infrastructure) Infrastructure investment brand launched by KB Asset Management, providing domestic infrastructure exposure; KB Balhae Infrastructure is Korea's first domestically developed infrastructure fund listed in December 2024.
• KB 베스트 모아드림 (KB Best Moadream) Fund investing across various medium-yield related funds to pursue stable returns, categorized as overseas very high risk and identified as the top inflow fund by sales. Established December 10, 2019.
• KB 글로벌 멀티에셋 인컴 (KB Global Multi-Asset Income) Global multi-asset income fund providing diversified exposure across global asset classes with income generation as a primary objective.
• KB 톡중국 4차산업 (KB Touch China 4th Industrial) Fund focusing on innovative Chinese companies related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, delivering strong returns (+36.37% over 3 months) driven by China's strategic emphasis on technology self-reliance.
• KB 로보어드바이저 (KB Robo-advisor) Comprehensive delegated discretionary investment service classified as a high-impact AI service under Korea's AI Basic Act. Operated by KB Asset Management as a self-managed service using AI for automated portfolio management and rebalancing.
• MYPORT Direct Indexing Solution Direct indexing solution enabling personalized investment management at the individual stock level for customized portfolios.

Quantifiable outcome

• RISE Network Infrastructure ETF delivered 125.61% return over six months and 27.73% year-to-date as of February 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• China Asset Management (ChinaAMC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026KB Asset Management and ChinaAMC, China's largest ETF manager managing approximately 665 trillion won in assets, signed a strategic MOU in Seoul on June 22, 2026 to establish a long-term framework for cross-border asset management cooperation. The partnership focuses on collaborative product development, market intelligence sharing, and investment views exchange. KBAM leverages ChinaAMC's investment capabilities in Chinese assets while ChinaAMC gains access to KBAM's distribution network in South Korea. The two firms agreed to jointly develop ETF products linked to Korean and Hong Kong markets, pursue cross-listings, and utilize the ETF Connect system for cross-border investment.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Nomura Asset Management: Japan's largest asset manager and a regional peer in Asian asset management with overlapping ETF, active equity, and pension capabilities; serves as a regional comparable for KBAM's Japan/Korea cross-border ambitions and ETF Connect-style distribution.

Direct peers

• China Asset Management (ChinaAMC): China's largest ETF manager with approximately 665 trillion KRW AUM; signed a flagship strategic MOU with KBAM in June 2026 for cross-border Korea-China ETF cooperation, making it simultaneously a strategic partner and a peer in the broader Asian ETF and asset management category.
• NH Asset Management: Asset management arm of NH Financial Group with significant ETF and active fund AUM; competes with KBAM in Korean retail funds and is identified as a third-party distribution partner alongside KBAM's own captive channels.
• Samsung Asset Management: One of Korea's largest domestic asset managers and a direct competitor in mutual funds, ETFs, and pension products; competes head-to-head with KBAM in the Korean retail channel and is one of the eight firms named alongside KBAM in the FSS leveraged ETF guidance.
• Korea Investment Management: Major Korean asset manager affiliated with Korea Investment & Securities; offers competing mutual fund, ETF, and OCIO products distributed through Korea Investment Holdings' securities network, overlapping directly with KBAM's KB Securities-based distribution.
• Shinhan Asset Management: Asset management subsidiary of Shinhan Financial Group, mirroring KBAM's structure within KB Financial Group; competes in Korean retail mutual funds, ETFs, and pension products through Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Investment distribution.
• Hanwha Asset Management: Asset management arm of Hanwha Group with significant Korean equity ETF and active fund AUM; a direct competitor in Korean retail distribution and one of the leveraged ETF issuers implicated in the FSS regulatory action.
• Mirae Asset Global Investments: Korea's largest asset manager by AUM with strong global ETF franchise (TIGER ETFs); competes directly with KBAM in Korean ETFs, active equity funds, and pension/retail mandates across the same third-party bank and securities distribution channels.

Broad incumbents

• BlackRock: Global asset management incumbent and the world's largest ETF issuer (iShares); competes with KBAM's RISE ETF franchise on international ETF product capabilities, index licensing, and institutional mandates, and sets the global benchmark for ETF operating leverage.
• Vanguard: Global low-cost index/ETF leader whose fee philosophy anchors industry-wide passive pricing pressure relevant to KBAM's RISE ETF economics; broader incumbent in the investment management category with overlapping ETF and target-date retirement offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCk9YkQ9oeOwyUyV5CBAMgZg
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kb-asset-management

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KB Asset Management