Koramco bets on sector expertise, downside risk management to navigate property market uncertainty

Asset managers’ ability to source, structure and manage investments has become increasingly critical amid high interest rates and a prolonged property market correction, which have heightened uncertainty across Korea’s real estate investment industry.

Cheong Seang-hoi, CEO and president of Koramco REITs Management and Trust, described the current market environment not simply as a downturn, but as a proving ground for asset managers.

In a recent interview with The Korea Times, he said Koramco views the ongoing market correction as both a crisis and an opportunity, adding that the company is focusing not on one-off deals or short-term gains, but on a structural overhaul of its operating model to navigate the uncertainty.

“When markets are strong, differences in performance among asset managers are less noticeable.

But when markets become volatile, outcomes depend on which assets they choose, how they structure investments and how effectively they manage them after acquisition,” he said.

“Interest rates remain elevated, liquidity has dried up and assets are being repriced.

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