South Korea’s leading companies have committed US$150bn in US investments over the next four years. According to a statement from Hyundai Motor Group, this move is expected to create 25,000 direct jobs and potentially thousands more opportunities for American businesses in manufacturing supply chains.
The pledge, announced at a summit between US President Donald Trump and President Lee Jae Myung in Washington on Monday (25 August), spans advanced industries including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and nuclear energy, with projects running to 2028.
Hyundai Motor Group leads the charge, boosting its US commitment to US$26bn from a previously announced US$21bn. Plans include a new steel mill in Louisiana and expanded auto production capacity for Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp.
As Ryu Jin, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, told the Korean press: “When the innovative capability of the United States combines with South Korea’s advanced manufacturing technology, the two countries will become partners that create the best synergy.”
The business forum also featured Samsung, SK, LG and Korean Air, alongside 21 American firms, including Nvidia, IBM, Google, Boeing and GM. Deals included Korean Air’s US$36.2bn order for 103 Boeing jets and shipbuilding partnerships with HD Hyundai and Samsung Heavy Industries.
“Korean companies are investing billions in US plants and labs, creating jobs and strengthening supply chains,” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said at the summit. “At the same time, American firms are bringing technology and opportunities to Korea. This is a two-way street.”
For companies in related sectors, this investment translates into practical opportunities: precision engineering firms supporting steel and auto production in Louisiana, robotics integrators working with Hyundai’s new hub expected to produce 30,000 units a year, energy contractors tied to Korea Gas Corporation’s LNG import deal, and logistics providers supporting growth in aerospace and shipbuilding.
The US $150bn investment pledge is part of a broader, non‑binding US$350bn investment framework proposed by Seoul in July as a means to offset threatened US tariffs on Korean goods. Economic analysts suggest that businesses in states such as Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama, where several major Korean companies are establishing plants, stand to benefit most from this revival in manufacturing activity.