Jay-Z, the iconic ‘King of Hip-Hop’ and husband of internationally acclaimed artist Beyoncé, is making strides in the private equity arena with a new fund aimed at advancing Korean cultural industries. In partnership with Hanwha Asset Management, Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners is set to establish a private equity fund valued at approximately KRW 700 billion (around USD 500 million). This initiative targets investments in prominent sectors of K-culture, including K-pop, K-food, and K-beauty.
On September 9, Hanwha Asset Management and Marcy Venture Partners formalized their collaboration with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the ‘Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025’ in the UAE. This strategic joint venture, named ‘Marcy Venture Asia,’ will have Marcy Venture Partners maintaining a majority stake, with an investment team based in Seoul overseeing operations.
The fund is anticipated to channel resources into companies that reflect the burgeoning interest in Korean cultural phenomena globally. According to Kim Jong-ho, CEO of Hanwha Asset Management, this move marks the inaugural entry of a private equity fund into the K-culture sector, aiming to nurture promising enterprises and link them with international capital for growth.
The Financial Times highlighted the massive global appeal of K-culture, citing successful acts like BTS and Blackpink, along with influential shows like ‘Squid Game.’ The report mentioned the fund’s intention to attract investments from institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and high-net-worth individuals, starting in the latter half of 2024.
Robinson, CEO of Marcy Venture Partners, also underscored Korea’s role as a cultural epicenter in Asia, leading trends in beauty, content, food, and entertainment. With this new fund, both Jay-Z and Hanwha Asset Management are poised to play a significant role in helping Korean companies expand their reach in international markets, paving the way for a promising future in global cultural exchange.