[비즈한국] Interest is mounting over a recent paid-in capital increase by 'Nexto,' a company led by former Ourhome Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun (59). Since management control of Ourhome passed to the Hanwha Group, former Vice Chairman Koo has been focusing on managing Nexto and Calisco. Not much is known about Nexto's activities. However, the company has been carrying out consistent management actions, such as acquiring a 25% stake in Calisco last year and, entering this year, adding new business purposes and executing a capital increase.
Former Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun took office as CEO upon the founding of Nexto in March 2023. At the time, there were two internal directors: former Vice Chairman Koo and former Ourhome executive Heo Seung-jae (55). Since Heo resigned in July 2025, former Vice Chairman Koo is now the sole internal director. While Nexto's specific shareholder composition has not been disclosed, judging by the board of directors, it appears that the former Vice Chairman’s family holds management control.
According to the corporate registry, Nexto’s initial business purposes were limited to "management consulting" and "real estate leasing." In April of this year, Nexto added "holding company operations" and "funding and management guidance for subsidiaries" to its business objectives. This was followed by a paid-in capital increase in June. After the capital increase, the company's capital rose from 20 million won to 40 million won at face value, and the total number of issued shares increased from 20,000 to 40,000. The fact that Nexto expanded its capital after adding these business purposes has led to speculation that it will aggressively pursue investments in subsidiaries or mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Indeed, Nexto appears to be moving into active investment, having purchased a 25% stake in Calisco last year. Calisco is the entity that operates the Japanese restaurant chain 'Saboten,' and former Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun was its largest shareholder until 2021. In 2022, Lindeman Innovation Growth Private Equity Fund participated in a capital increase for Calisco, becoming the largest shareholder with a 50% stake. This private equity fund is managed by Lindeman Asia Investment. The 25% stake in Calisco acquired by Nexto last year represents half of the 50% held by Lindeman.
According to audit reports, as of the end of last year, Calisco's shareholders consisted of: Lindeman Innovation Growth Private Equity Fund (25%), Nexto (25%), former Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun (23%), and former Calisco CEO Koo Myung-jin (17.75%). Since former Vice Chairman Koo leads Nexto, she appears to exercise the greatest voting power within Calisco. She currently continues to serve as an internal director at Calisco.
The business world is watching to see if former Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun will use Nexto to attempt to regain management control of Ourhome. Former Vice Chairman Koo publicly opposed Hanwha Group’s acquisition of Ourhome. In April of this year, she criticized the situation on social media, stating, "I attended the Ourhome shareholders' meeting, and Kim Dong-seon, Vice President of Hanwha Galleria, was giving all the orders from a position where he was neither a shareholder nor a director, yet he did not even appear at the meeting," adding that "The CEO and Chairman (of Ourhome) was a mere puppet who could not even properly answer questions."
Realistically, it is difficult for former Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun to win back management control of Ourhome. As of the end of last year, Ourhome's shareholders were: Woori Home F&B (50.62%), former Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun (20.67%), former CEO Koo Myung-jin (19.60%), and former Ourhome Vice Chairman Koo Bon-sung (8.00%). Woori Home F&B is 100% owned by Hanwha Hotels & Resorts.
However, since former Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun still holds a significant stake, she is in a position to keep Hanwha Group in check. She could respond through shareholder proposal rights, shareholder derivative suits, or by exercising the right to inspect accounting books. There is also speculation that former Vice Chairman Koo might transfer her Ourhome shares to Nexto so that the company can manage them professionally.
That said, because there is little public information regarding Nexto's specific activities, rumors are currently rife. Nexto's headquarters is located in a shared office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and no separate official office has been identified. Industry attention is focused on what role Nexto will play in former Vice Chairman Koo Ji-eun's future management activities.