KKR targets Korea’s AI supply chain after record $3bn investment

KKR is looking to expand its investment activity in South Korea after deploying around $3bn in the country this year, with the private equity firm targeting opportunities created by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The 2026 investment total represents a record annual deployment for KKR in South Korea, based on disclosed transaction values and ownership stakes. The firm expects the country’s position in the global AI supply chain to generate further opportunities across data centres, energy and other infrastructure, as well as within the technology sector.

Chung Ho Park, KKR’s head of Korea, said Korean companies are increasingly concentrating their businesses around core operations and taking a more active approach to capital allocation, creating opportunities for outside investors to work alongside major corporate groups.

South Korea is a key part of the global AI ecosystem through semiconductor manufacturers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Rising demand for computing capacity is also creating investment requirements beyond chips, including data centres, electricity generation and other supporting infrastructure.

Private equity investment in South Korea has reached about $37bn as of early September, according to Preqin data, putting the market within sight of its annual record of $41.4bn set in 2021.

KKR has sought to position itself across several parts of this investment cycle. Earlier this year, it invested KRW1.22tn ($880m) in convertible bonds issued by Samsung SDS, alongside an agreement to work with the technology company on mergers and acquisitions, capital allocation and the expansion of its AI operations.

The firm has also invested in infrastructure supporting the country’s AI growth. KKR joined local investment firms to commit a combined KRW3.08tn to the newly established data-centre business of SK Telecom.

At the same time, KKR is building a renewable-energy platform with SK Group, giving the firm exposure to both the rising demand for electricity from data centres and the infrastructure needed to supply that power.

The firm’s approximately $3bn of Korean investments this year would place the country among KKR’s three largest Asia-Pacific markets by investment for 2026.