Conceptual diagram of ship fractional investment. (Image courtesy of Korea Ocean Business Corporation)
BUSAN, Sept. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s state-run Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) said Monday it will roll out a pilot program this year that allows ordinary citizens to become shipowners through fractional investment.
The initiative, to be conducted under existing securities and asset securitization laws, will issue profit-linked securities backed by vessels already owned by KOBC, with issuance capped at 1 trillion won ($730 million). Retail investors will be able to subscribe via brokerage accounts, with the securities later tradable on secondary markets.
The move comes amid growing momentum in Seoul to formalize fractional investment across asset classes. Thirteen related bills are currently pending in the National Assembly.
If enacted, the measures would streamline issuance procedures, broaden the range of issuers, and pave the way for blockchain-based tokenized securities.
KOBC said it intends to expand the program once the legal framework is clarified, eventually extending it to a broader set of maritime assets and introducing blockchain-based tokenized investment products.
“This will open the door for the public to directly invest in ships and maritime assets, sharing in the industry’s future,” said KOBC President Ahn Byung-gil. “We aim to make this pilot a success and lead the diversification of maritime finance.”
The corporation plans to outline details of the program at a strategy forum in the National Assembly on September 3.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
