South Korean AI Winners Step Up US Investment Spree

South Korean companies enriched by the global AI infrastructure boom are directing more capital to the United States, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix leading the push. Slower growth at home, Donald Trump’s tariff threats and the retreat of Chinese bidders from US technology assets have created an opening for Korean buyers. The investments are intended both to localise supply chains and acquire capabilities spanning AI chips, data-centre cooling, optical interconnects, robotics and biopharma.

Outbound FDI to the US more than doubled year on year to $10.2 billion in the first quarter of 2026, the highest in five years, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economy. Samsung Electronics joined ZutaCore’s $100 million funding round in June 2026 after backing Groq’s $750 million round in 2025. SK hynix in January 2026 pledged $10 billion for investments and partnerships with US innovators, building on a $120 million investment in optical-interconnect startup Avicena in 2025.