Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Attends '2026 Asia Impact Night' in Japan

Nurtured 374 Impact Startups Over 14 Years
Created 7,481 Jobs

Jaeho Choi, Secretary General of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, proposed that in order to address complex social issues such as low birth rates, aging populations, regional extinction, and the climate crisis, a 'public-philanthropy partnership' is needed, in which the government and private foundations share risks and promote social innovation.

At the '2026 Asia Impact Night' held in Kobe, Japan from the 16th (local time) to the 18th, Jaeho Choi, Secretary General of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation (third from the left), is attending and speaking. Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation

Secretary General Choi participated in the '2026 Asia Impact Night' held in Kobe, Japan from September 16 to 18, where he discussed the role of capital and strategies for collaboration to promote sustainable social innovation with key leaders from the Asian impact investment ecosystem.

During a session themed 'Catalytic Capital' on September 17, Secretary General Choi outlined the role of public-interest foundations in building social wealth based on the difference between capitaland wealth. He said, "If capital is a means to reach our destination, then wealth is the ultimate destination we aim to achieve," emphasizing that public-interest foundations should convert their assets into human and social capital in order to accumulate sustainable social wealth for future generations.

He also explained that in the so-called 'grey zone'—the period after public support ends but before private investment becomes widespread—private public-interest foundations should take on a catalytic role by sharing the risks of early-stage failure faced by social enterprises.

He cited the foundation's 'CMK Impactpreneur' program as an example. Since 2012, the foundation has been discovering and nurturing impact startups that solve social problems through innovative business models and technology. Over the past 14 years, it has supported 374 companies, created 7,481 jobs, and attracted a cumulative 377.9 billion won in investment. Starting this year, the foundation is also promoting the 'CMK Global Impactpreneur' program in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), supporting promising social innovators across the Asia-Pacific region.

A foundation representative stated, "We will further expand exchanges and cooperation with a variety of partners including Asian foundations, impact investors, corporations, and public institutions, and are committed to building an Asian social innovation ecosystem that enables social innovators to continuously take on new challenges."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.