Global Companies in Korea — 2026-09-05

Top developments

US Semiconductor and Energy Firms Invest $2 Billion in Korea

On September 4, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA announced that four US semiconductor materials, equipment, and offshore wind companies, including Axcelis and Corning, are investing a total of $2 billion (approx. 2.6 trillion won) to build supply chains within South Korea. This investment aims to localize semiconductor materials and expand clean energy infrastructure, further solidifying Korea's position as a manufacturing hub amid ongoing global supply chain restructuring.

Chipotle Opens First Asian Store in Gangnam as Foothold in Korea

Chipotle, a leading US fast-casual brand, chose South Korea as its very first entry point into Asia, opening its flagship store in Gangnam, Seoul. Huh Hee-soo, CVO of Samgildang Holdings—who successfully brought Shake Shack to Korea—led the partnership. The expansion focuses less on rapid store growth and more on using Korea as a strategic foothold for the Asian market and building local supply chains. This highlights the growing trend of famous global brands using the Korean market as a global testbed.

Chiliz Launches 'Socios Equity Token' for Sports Team Stakes

Global sports and entertainment blockchain company CHILIZ has launched the "Socios Equity Token," allowing fans to digitally own minor equity stakes in professional sports teams. With a spotlight on Korean fans' exceptionally high propensity for investment globally, industry watchers are keeping a close eye on whether this launch will spark brand-new sports fandom-based investment demand in Korea.

Deals, expansion & investment

• Strengthening Halal Economic Cooperation with Malaysia: On September 3, the "Korea Meets Halal" event was held in Seoul, discussing ways to boost halal industry cooperation and market access with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries.
• Foreign Semiconductor Equipment Makers Expand Hiring: Driven by expanded investments from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, foreign parts-materials-equipment companies like Lam Research, Tokyo Electron (TEL), and ASML are seeing a surge in tech talent recruitment in Korea. ASML, for instance, is running triple-digit hiring campaigns amid fierce competition for talent.

Regulation & market context

• Implementation of the Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Act: Following the Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Act that took effect on June 18, the Korea-U.S. Investment Corporation (KUIC) has officially launched. This follows the outcomes of bilateral tariff negotiations and is expected to foster mutually beneficial conditions for attracting US corporate investment into Korea moving forward.
• Upgraded SME Export Targets: The government plans to support 500 "K-Tech" companies to boost small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) exports to $180 billion by 2030. This marks a strategic shift to diversify export items beyond K-beauty into industrial goods and tech products.

On the radar

• OpenAI Releases Astra AGI Model: OpenAI recently unveiled its next-generation AGI model, "Astra," reigniting interest in AI technology adoption among domestic IT circles and investors.
• POSCO Group Recruits AI and Robotics Talent: POSCO Group is reinforcing its future technological capabilities by hiring hundreds of professionals in AI and robotics during its second-half recruitment drive.

By the numbers

• $2 Billion: Total investment amount pledged by four US semiconductor and energy companies into Korea's supply chain.
• $180 Billion: Target SME export volume to be achieved by 2030.
• 100: Number of security innovation companies selected and supported by the government annually (with 200 billion won invested through 2030).