Investment in South Korean venture firms soared nearly 40 percent in the first half of 2015 from a year earlier due largely to government support measures to foster their growth, data showed Monday.

A total of 517 venture startups received a combined 956.9 billion won ($816.1 million) in investment in the January-June period, up 38.4 percent from 691.2 billion won tallied the previous year, according to the data by the Small and Medium Business Administration.

The number of the firms that received funding also hiked 23.7 percent over the same period, the data showed.

The portion of the investment in venture companies that are less than 7 years old increased to 56.7 percent from 49.1 percent in the last 12 months, reflecting that investors have begun to show interest in fresh startups and their business prospects.

Venture investment in South Korea lost steam after the dot-com boom in the information technology sector collapsed in the early 2000s.

An official at the SMBA said such a rapid growth in venture investment could herald a return of good times since its cumulative amount is expected to record a fresh high after the 2.21 trillion won posted during the dot-com era.

Of the total, some 260 billion won was invested in software, mobile and IT in the first half, with about 157 billion won put in e-commerce and wholesale-related ventures, the data showed.

The value of new venture funds created during the six months reached 625.6 billion won, the SMBA added. (Yonhap)