Brookfield targets 30 trillion won in Korea investment by 2030

"Korea is receiving very high marks at Brookfield's global strategy meetings. We plan to grow our investment here from the current 17 trillion won (approximately $11.1 billion) to 30 trillion won by 2030." — Park Jun-woo, head of Brookfield Korea

Global alternative asset manager Brookfield Asset Management has signaled a major expansion of its Korea investment, naming power infrastructure tied to AI adoption, data center demand and semiconductor supply chain restructuring as its core opportunities and pledging to sharply increase its domestic investment over the coming years.

According to investment banking industry sources, Brookfield held a press briefing at its IFC headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on June 1, disclosing its Korea investment strategy and key portfolio updates. Park Jun-woo, head of Brookfield Korea, and Catherine Woods, senior vice president for Asia-Pacific, attended in person, while Andrew Burych, head of real estate for East Asia, joined remotely.

Brookfield Asset Management is a Canada-based global alternative investment firm managing more than $1.3 trillion (approximately 2,000 trillion won) in assets across more than 50 countries. Since entering the Korean market in 2014, it has focused on real estate, infrastructure, and renewable energy and transition assets, and currently manages approximately $13 billion (17 trillion won) in domestic assets. Those assets are concentrated in real estate, infrastructure, and renewable energy and transition sectors.

"Brookfield is a long-term partner that holds and operates real assets over time to build value," Park said. "We continue to invest in Korea with a focus on sectors with strong long-term growth potential, including semiconductors, industrial gases, data centers and renewable energy."

Brookfield invested in SK AirPlus — then known as SK Materials AirPlus — industrial gas facilities in 2022. From 2023, it has been designing, building and operating domestic data centers through its subsidiary DCI. In 2024, it acquired the operating and development platform of Hanmaeum Energy to enter the Korean energy market. Last year, it invested 1.4 trillion won in SK AirPlus's industrial gas production facilities and carbon business division.

The investment expansion reflects Brookfield's signature long-term investment strategy. Park said that unlike conventional private equity funds, Brookfield specializes in investments spanning more than a decade. "Brookfield pursues long-term partnerships with Korean companies from the perspective of a strategic investor," he said. "We continue to invest with a view to expanding businesses by combining the global capabilities and capital that Korean conglomerates and Brookfield each bring to the table."

Brookfield has set up dedicated funds and signaled aggressive investment in response to surging demand for AI and power infrastructure. Last year, it announced a 150 trillion won "AI program" in partnership with Nvidia. It has also completed fundraising for its 30 trillion won Global Transition Fund 2, targeting renewable energy investment. The firm believes the simultaneous advance of AI adoption and supply chain restructuring is expanding investment opportunities in the physical infrastructure sector where it holds a competitive edge.

"AI and power are two investment areas you simply cannot choose between," Park said. "Brookfield will continue its strategic investment around three keywords driving megatrends: digitalization, decarbonization and deglobalization."

Brookfield also expressed optimism about Korea's real estate market. "Brookfield currently has $40 billion invested across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, and plans to expand that to $100 billion over the long term," Burych said. "Rising construction costs are constraining new supply, logistics demand is growing, and changes in housing regulation are all creating significant opportunities."