Korea Ocean Business Corporation

What Korea Ocean Business Corporation does

Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC, 한국해양진흥공사) is a South Korean state-backed policy financial institution founded in 2018 and headquartered in Busan, with a secondary office in Seoul. It was created to provide ship financing, vessel management support, maritime infrastructure financing, and eco-friendly shipping transition support to Korean shipping companies, and it operates inside a coordinated network of Korean state financial institutions including the Export-Import Bank of Korea, Korea Development Bank, and Korea Trade Insurance Corp.

KOBC's service portfolio spans four operational lines. Maritime finance covers ship finance, management support, infrastructure finance, and eco-friendly response (including ice-class and ice-strengthened newbuilding subsidies). Maritime information services publish proprietary indices — the KOBC Drybulk Composite Index (KDCI) and the KOBC Container Composite Index (KCCI), which covers 13 routes from Busan and is released weekly on Mondays at 2 PM — alongside newbuilding and second-hand ship price indices. Government-commissioned services include subsidies and the Excellent Ship Operator Certification, which underpins fair-trade incentive provision for qualified operators. Policy support covers a digital transformation initiative branded "Maritime Industry AX" and a maritime supply chain program, both delivered via the company's Busan headquarters and Seoul office (11-50 employees).

As a policy entity, KOBC's revenue model is not commercially pricing-based: programs are individually evaluated and funded through government appropriations, commission flows, and its own balance-sheet activity. In 2025, KOBC launched a $154 million fund to help Korean e-commerce businesses establish US distribution networks, deploying over $120 million into Atlanta (33,000 sq m) and Savannah (25,000 sq m) logistics facilities. In 2026, KOBC raised an additional $300 million funding round and signed the $150 billion Korea-US Strategic Investment partnership alongside HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Hanwha Ocean to support Korean shipbuilders' US expansion. KOBC is a participant in the UN Global Compact and has been recognized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance as an excellent public institution in customer satisfaction evaluation for two consecutive years.

Name

Korea Ocean Business Corporation

Legal name

Korea Ocean Business Corporation

Website

https://kobc.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) is a South Korean state-backed policy financial institution founded in 2018 that provides ship financing, eco-friendly vessel subsidies, maritime information indices, and policy support to Korean shipping companies and shipbuilders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Finance / Ship Financing Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Boat Finance (FSAKADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF)

Keywords

• Ship financing services
• Maritime policy finance
• Shipping industry support
• Maritime information indices
• Eco-friendly vessel subsidies

Headquarters

HQ city

Busan

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ship Finance and Financing Support: KOBC provides ship financing services to support stable vessel acquisition and liquidity for Korean shipping companies. The organization coordinates with major policy lenders and state-backed institutions.
2. Policy Support Programs: Government-commissioned programs providing subsidies and support for eco-friendly vessel construction, Arctic route development, and maritime industry competitiveness enhancement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) is a state-backed maritime policy financial institution that provides ship financing, management support, infrastructure financing, and eco-friendly vessel support services to Korean shipping companies. It also operates maritime information services including proprietary shipping indices (KCCI, KDCI) and government-commissioned programs such as the Excellent Ship Operator Certification and Arctic Route support subsidies for the maritime industry.

Product overview

Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) is a comprehensive maritime support organization that operates as a multi-service platform across maritime finance, maritime information, government commissioned services, and policy support. The core maritime finance division includes ship finance, management support, infrastructure finance, and eco-friendly response services. The maritime information service provides the KOBC Container Composite Index (KCCI) for 13 container routes from Busan and the KOBC Drybulk Composite Index (KDCI). Government commissioned services include subsidies and certification programs such as the Excellent Ship Operator Certification. Policy support encompasses maritime industry digital transformation (AX) and supply chain strengthening initiatives. Additional specialized services include the Arctic Route Comprehensive Support Center providing ice-class vessel subsidies, and the export-import logistics data platform for public-private data sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ship Finance (선박금융) Financial services supporting Korean shipping companies in acquiring vessels and securing liquidity for maritime operations.
• Management Support (경영지원) Management support services for Korean shipping companies to enhance operational efficiency and business performance.
• Infrastructure Finance (인프라금융) Financing solutions for maritime infrastructure development and port-related projects in South Korea.
• Eco-friendly Response (친환경대응) Financial and advisory support for environmentally friendly ship construction and green maritime initiatives, including subsidies for eco-friendly ice-breaking and ice-strengthened vessel newbuilding.
• Maritime Information Service (해양정보) Comprehensive maritime market information service providing shipping industry analysis, freight rate indices, and market data to maritime industry participants.
• Supply Chain Support (공급망 지원) Support services for maritime supply chain optimization and resilience for Korean shipping enterprises.
• KCCI (KOBC Container Composite Index) Proprietary index tracking container freight rates across 13 routes departing from Busan port, published weekly on Mondays at 2 PM.
• KDCI (KOBC Drybulk Composite Index) Proprietary index tracking drybulk shipping market conditions, freight rates, and vessel valuations for the drybulk segment.
• Excellent Ship Operator Certification (우수선화주인증) Certification program for fair trade promotion, incentive provision, and certification mark issuance for qualified shipping operators.
• Arctic Route Comprehensive Support Center (북극항로종합지원센터) Center providing support for Arctic route development including ice-class vessel construction subsidies and Arctic navigation services for Korean shipping companies.
• Maritime Industry Digital Transformation (해양산업 AX) Digital transformation initiatives supporting the maritime industry's adoption of advanced technologies.
• Maritime Supply Chain Policy Support (해상공급망) Policy support for strengthening maritime supply chain stability and competitiveness for Korean maritime enterprises.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HD Hyundai Heavy IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026One of Korea's three largest shipbuilders partnering with KOBC and state policy lenders for the $150 billion US shipbuilding investment initiative.
• Samsung Heavy IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Major Korean shipbuilder participating in the joint financing alliance to support US shipbuilding expansion as part of the Korea-US strategic investment framework.
• Hanwha OceancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Partnership with KOBC and policy lenders for the Korea-US shipbuilding investment initiative, supporting Korean shipbuilders' expansion into the US market.
• Korean E-commerce BusinessescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2025KOBC created a $154 million fund to help Korean e-commerce businesses establish US distribution networks, acquiring logistics facilities in Georgia as the first investments through this fund.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI): Japan's official export credit agency providing insurance and financing for Japanese shipbuilders and exporters. Functional peer to KOBC's Korea Trade Insurance Corp coordination role in maritime export support.
• Euler Hermes (German export credit agency): Germany's official export credit agency, supporting German maritime industry financing and export guarantees. Comparable European policy institution with maritime finance mandate similar to KOBC.
• Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM): China's state policy bank supporting ship financing and major shipbuilders. Comparable regional policy lender with similar mandate of supporting domestic maritime industry and shipbuilding exports.
• China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (SINOSURE): China's official export credit agency, providing insurance and financing support for Chinese shipbuilders and exporters. Comparable to KOBC's role in providing trade and policy financial instruments for the maritime sector.
• Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC): Japan's policy-based financial institution supporting overseas infrastructure and shipbuilding investments. Comparable policy mandate to KOBC in supporting domestic shipping and shipbuilding industry competitiveness internationally.

Direct peers

• Korea Development Bank (KDB): Korea's flagship state policy bank, co-coordinator of the $150B Korea-US shipbuilding initiative with KOBC, and shareholder of major Korean shipping companies. Direct domestic peer in maritime policy lending.
• Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM): Korea's official export-import bank and a direct co-coordinator with KOBC in the $150B Korea-US shipbuilding investment framework. Both institutions are Korean state policy lenders targeting the shipping and export sectors.
• Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE): Korean state export credit agency co-coordinating with KOBC on the Korea-US shipbuilding investment framework. Direct peer in providing policy-backed financial instruments for Korean shipping and shipbuilding exports.

Broad incumbents

• BNP Paribas Shipping Finance: Global commercial maritime finance division of BNP Paribas, acquired from DVB Bank. Comparable as a major commercial maritime lender, though operating with broader commercial (rather than policy) mandate than KOBC.
• KfW IPEX-Bank: German commercial maritime finance bank within the KfW group, providing ship financing and maritime infrastructure loans. Comparable as an established commercial + policy maritime lender, though operating at larger scale and broader scope than KOBC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kobcofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/kobcofficial

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Korea Ocean Business Corporation