Koramco at 25: From birth of Korean REITs to $45 bil. powerhouse

Koramco REITs Management and Trust, established in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, has evolved into a dominant real estate investment manager with a staggering 60 trillion won ($45.3 billion) in assets under management. The company recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, as it endeavors to expand its reach beyond Korea's borders and solidify its position within the country's real estate investment landscape.

In the wake of the financial crisis, Korean corporations were compelled to offload property assets to bolster their balance sheets. However, the nation lacked the necessary investors and financial framework to accommodate significant real estate sales. To address this challenge and facilitate market stabilization, the government enacted the Real Estate Investment Company Act in 2001.

In response to this legislation, Koramco was founded in October of the same year, marking Korea's inaugural real estate investment trust (REIT) asset management entity. Since its establishment, Koramco has played a pivotal role in shaping Korea's real estate finance market, broadening its scope from restructuring-focused REITs to encompass listed REITs and diversified real estate investments.