Seoul, Republic of Korea | April 2, 2025 — In a dynamic step toward transforming how forests are funded and protected, the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and Merry Year Social Company (MYSC) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to kick off a bold new partnership focused on blended finance for climate and forest action.
Held at the AFoCO Secretariat office in Seoul, the Signing Ceremony marked not just the beginning of a collaboration, but the launch of a shared ambition to channel private capital into Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across Asia. The MOU was signed by Mr. Chongho Park, Executive Director of AFoCO, and Mr. Jeongtae Kim, CEO of MYSC, in front of colleagues and stakeholders committed to driving sustainable change.
Scaling ideas into action
This partnership sets the stage for the creation of a new financing mechanism—tentatively named the AFoCO-MYSC Regenerative Solutions Fund. The fund is designed to scale up investment in NbS and market-based solutions (MbS) —all while exploring how public-private partnerships (PPP) can scale up forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and climate-smart innovations in AFoCO Member Countries.
- Together, AFoCO and MYSC will:
- Design and pilot a blended finance model for sustainable forest management
- Launch investment-ready projects beyond the Republic of Korea
- Leverage MYSC’s global investor network and expertise in impact investment
- Establish structured benefit-sharing models to ensure long-term sustainability
Voices from the ceremony
“This partnership opens an exciting new chapter for AFoCO,” said Executive Director Chongho Park. “With MYSC, we aim to reimagine forest finance—not just as a funding tool, but as a means to elevate Nature-based Solutions at scale.”
Jeongtae Kim, CEO of MYSC, echoed the sentiment: “We’re thrilled to co-create a platform that turns big climate ideas into investable, on-the-ground solutions. AFoCO’s regional reach and policy leadership are exactly what’s needed to unlock scalable impact.”
What comes next?
With the ink now dry, AFoCO and MYSC are moving full speed ahead. A joint concept note is underway, and pilot planning has already begun. Over the coming months, the two partners will engage with investors, Member Country governments, and innovation hubs to bring the fund to life.
This collaboration is part of AFoCO’s larger push to blend public mandates with private-sector agility, creating a scalable, replicable model for NbS financing in Asia. AFoCO and MYSC will work together to build the future of forest finance—one Nature-based Solution at a time.
*The AFoCO-MYSC MOU Signing Ceremony was hedl right after the Impact for Breakfast Seoul event hosted by AFoCO Secretatiat.
