[Edaily Marketin Soyoung Park Reporter Kim Yeon-ji] Last week, about 80 people from the Middle East, dressed in suits rather than traditional attire, began arriving one after another at the FKI Tower in Yeouido, Seoul. They included representatives from approximately 20 major companies, such as the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Ceer—Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle manufacturer—STC, the country’s largest telecommunications company, and Sami, a state-owned defense contractor. The “2026 Korea-Saudi Business Investment Forum,” held that day under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, drew some 250 business leaders from both countries. Due to an overwhelming number of applications for one-on-one consultations, the schedule—originally planned for the afternoon only—was expanded to begin in the morning.

Global investors are increasingly flocking to Korea. Driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, those who have observed Korea’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem and technological capabilities are placing Korea at the top of their lists as an investment and partnership destination, leading to a steady stream of visits to the country. There is growing expectation that if this trend continues, it could transform Korea’s capital market—which has long been in a “discounted” state—into one that commands a “premium.”

According to the domestic investment banking (IB) industry on the 12th, the number of global capital market officials visiting South Korea is on the rise. Starting with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), officials from the Ministry of Investment (MISA) and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) will arrive in the country one after another through next month. Officials from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the UAE’s healthcare regulatory agency will also visit South Korea this month.

They are not simply seeking import and export partners. Rather, they are looking for new investment opportunities and collaboration partners in cutting-edge industries such as electric vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), defense, and pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

This trend is not limited to Middle Eastern countries. Hayfin Capital Management, a global alternative investment manager, opened an official office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 1st of this month. The opening of this office is part of the company’s strategic business expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

Global leaders from Nubin Asset Management, who head various divisions including real estate, infrastructure, and natural capital, visited Korea to share their outlook on the global real asset market. Meanwhile, Brookfield Asset Management of Canada—which had previously kept a low profile—publicly announced that it would steadily seek investment opportunities in Korea, focusing on the office, logistics, and residential sectors.

Many analysts attribute this to the growing recognition of South Korea’s manufacturing competitiveness, driven by the revaluation of semiconductor companies such as SamsungElectronics(005930) and SK hynix(000660). The related ecosystem, as well as technological capabilities and infrastructure assets in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, are also gaining recognition in the alternative investment market.

Research institutes affiliated with prestigious U.S. universities and startup incubators are also increasingly turning their attention to South Korea. As relations with China have grown strained under the second Trump administration, these entities are identifying South Korea as an alternative partner for collaboration.

For example, Baker Bio Labs, a life sciences startup incubator affiliated with UC Berkeley, recently approved the admission of VS Pharmtech—a South Korean biotech company currently conducting clinical trials for an anticancer efficacy enhancer—into its lab. This marks the first time a Korean company has been accepted into the program. A representative from Meridian Innovation, which recommended VS Pharmtech, stated, “The U.S. highly values talent in Korea’s medical and healthcare industries, as well as its health insurance data,” adding, “There is strong interest in investing in early-stage Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies.”

Industry experts emphasize that now, as global capital markets are focusing on Korea, is the time to solidify the trend of revaluation leading to a “Korea premium.” An investment banking industry source said, “The best-case scenario is for more global capital to flow in as a result of this opportunity,” adding, “Since there appear to be many promising companies in Korea right now, many global limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs) are coming to explore opportunities, but the ‘Korea premium’ can only be achieved if these visits lead to actual investments.”