SEOUL - South Korea's National Pension Service is in the final stages of talks with SK Energy and other companies to pump a combined 1 trillion won ($863 million) into their plants and equipment, a newspaper reported.

The Korea Economic Daily cited the world's fifth-largest pension fund as saying the investment would be in the form of purchases of shares or bonds of the companies, or as loans of more than five years.

NPS could not immediately be reached for comment.

The newspaper added that the companies set to secure the investments included sugar and chemical company Samyang, and POSCO Power, a unit of steel maker POSCO. Most are engaged in green growth businesses such as lithium-ion batteries, smart grids and renewable energy.

The reported investment comes after the government pledged to stick to growth-supportive policies to lead Asia's fourth-largest economy toward a sustainable economic turnaround. ($1=1159.0 Won) (Reporting by Kim Yeon-hee; Editing by Chris Lewis)