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Finding Business
Opportunities in Korea

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Korea's Solid
Economic Fundamentals

This remarkable economic stature reflects its innovative industries and robust global commerce, positioning Korea as a leading nation shaping the future of the global market.

Sovereign
Credit Rating

Aa2
GDP

10th
Trade

6th

15 National Industrial Complex
for Advanced Industries

Innovation for semiconductors, displays and future mobility

Korea is forward-thinking, with plans to establish 15 national industrial complexes to become the bedrock for advanced industries

Other Industries

Investment Success Stories

M (Swiss company)

M completely acquired Gowoonsesang Cosmetics, which had developed the derma cosmetics brand Dr.G for the past twenty-two years. The acquisition signifies that global players are highly interested in beauty products made with new technologies such as derma cosmetics. The case also shows the presence of Korean brands and companies that are already building global recognition in this segment based on innovative technologies.

E (US company)

Prior to the above case, an American global cosmetics group acquired Korea's Have & be, which owns the highly-recognized derma-cosmetics brand Dr. Jart. The case is another testament to the growing global interest in derma-cosmetics and the status of Korean tech companies showing clear strengths amidst the trend.

Netflix invests in a state-of-the-art special effects studio in Korea

Netflix, a global OTT platform, is building an ecosystem of content creation and production by installing in-house studios in various parts of the world, including the US where it is headquartered, Spain, and the UK. Especially noteworth is that Netflix has chosen Korea to build its first Asian content production base. Eyeline Studios, a Netflix subsidiary that produces special effect videos, announced that it will establish a subsidiary in Seoul in 2022 and invest USD 100 million over the next five years (2023 to 2027). Eyeline Studios decided to invest in Korea by considering the potential of K-content in the global market and the excellence of Korean special effects video production specialists. The investment is expected to contribute to the development of the Korean film and drama production industry as it will help upgrade K-content through the introduction of advanced special effects technology as well as directly creating 200 jobs.

Tencent Increases Equity Investment in Korean Game Developers

With the steady growth of foreign investment in Korean game developers, Chinese IT giant Tencent continues to make new and increased investments in Korean online and mobile game companies. In July 2022, Tencent became the first Chinese game company to join the board of directors of the Korea Association of Game Industry (K-GAMES) and is expected to expand its influence in the Korean game market while continuing to invest in Korean game companies. Considering Tencent's powerful influence in the Chinese game market and the Chinese government's issuance in December 2022 of several "banhao" (game service licenses) to Korean games in the Chinese market for the first time in a year and a half, expectations are rising that Tencent's investment in Korea will provide a new opportunity for Korea game developers to launch their high-quality games in the Chinese market.

DIG Airgas

DIG Airgas is Korea's leading industrial gas provider founded in 1979 and acquired by MBK Partners in 2017. In 2020, MBK Partners sold DIG Airgas, achieving a return of over 100% in less than three years. Macquarie Group of Australia acquired the company from MBK Partners for USD 2.2 billion, with participation from a number of global LP investors, including the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and the pension fund of Alberta, Canada.

Yanolja

Yanolja is a Korean travel platform founded in 2005 that has grown into the country's largest online travel platform in just over 18 years. In 2019, the company became a unicorn with USD 180 million in funding from Booking Holdings, a major US travel platform, and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC). In 2021, it was listed as a decacorn with a USD 1.7 billion investment from Japan's Softbank. Yanolja plans to go public in the coming years.

T (Japanese company)

Increasingly being used in high-tech industries such as eco-friendly vehicles, secondary batteries, and electrical and electronic devices, engineering plastics are at the center of a fierce global competition aimed at securing technology. Company T leading the global advanced materials market has expanded its manufacturing base in Korea, raising expectations that it will contribute to the formation of a stable value chain with Korean businesses needing engineering plastics and to the development of related technologies. Southeast Asia with its relatively-low investment costs competed with Korea to attract Company T's investment, but the company decided to invest in Korea after the Korean government offered various incentives in Korea and Japan.

S (Saudi company)

Despite global economic uncertainties, Company S announced plans to invest KRW 9 trillion from 2023 to 2026 to produce chemicals such as ethylene and propylene and high-value-added plastics in Ulsan. According to the Ulsan city government, the massive investment is expected to create up to 17,000 jobs during the construction period and revitalize the local construction industry valued at more than KRW 3 trillion. The company plans to commercialize for the first time in the world a TC2C (Thermal Crude to Chemicals) facility, which converts low-value heavy oil products from existing refineries into raw materials used in steam crackers that produce petrochemical raw materials.

Coupang / US

Since its establishment in Korea in 2010, Coupang has invested KRW 6.2 trillion to build more than 30 logistics hubs nationwide in the past 12 years and emerged as a major investor greatly contributing to the national economy. Taking advantage of the explosive growth of the e-commerce market in Korea, Coupang has made aggressive investments and established itself as an industry leader. Over the past few years, Coupang directly employed more than 60,000 people in the domestic market, contributing to the revitalization of local commercial districts by creating large-scale employment. It is also leading the advancement of the logistics industry by introducing AI algorithms and robot automation in its state-of-the-art large-scale logistics centers (e.g. Daegu FC).

EMP Belstar / US

EMP Belstar is a global investor that has established cold chain clusters in major logistics hubs across Korea, including Busan, Incheon, and Pyeongtaek Ports. As its first project in Korea, EMP Bestar has built an ultra-low temperature logistics complex facility in Oseong Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek, completed and launched in January 2019. It is also building ultra-low temperature facilities in Busan and Incheon, with a vision to establish its Asian cold chain hub in Korea. The total amount of executed and planned investment in Korea reached USD 2-3 billion, and EMP Belstar aimed to increase its market share to 25% by building five to six cold storage facilities nationwide, starting from investing in major logistics clusters.

Kongsberg

Kongsberg Maritime Korea Ltd. is a subsidiary of Kongsberg, a Norwegian company that supplies automation equipment for ship operation with leading marine technology and ship automation technology. After opening a Korean office in 1999, the company established a factory in Mieum, Busan in 2007 and employs 236 people. Kongsberg Maritime Korea supplies ship equipment such as ship automation systems, automatic positioning systems, navigation systems, and ship propulsion systems to major shipbuilders in Korea and is recognized as one of the nation's best ship automation systems suppliers. The company is currently headquartered in Busan with offices in Geoje, Ulsan, and Mokpo.