RoK leads foreign investment in Vietnam with over USD 95.13 billion

According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam has attracted investors from 153 countries and territories. Among them, the RoK ranks first with 10,412 valid projects and total registered capital exceeding USD 95.13 billion.

In January 2026 alone, the RoK investors registered 42 new projects, 21 capital-adjusted projects and 46 capital contributions and share purchases, with total registered capital of over USD 551 million. The RoK ranked second among 52 countries and territories investing in Vietnam in the first month of 2026.

To date, many major the RoK industrial conglomerates have invested in Vietnam and consider the country a strategic destination. A prominent example is Samsung.

Having invested in Vietnam since 2008, starting with a mobile phone factory in Bac Ninh province, after nearly 18 years Samsung now operates six factories, one research and development (R&D) center and one sales entity in Vietnam.

More importantly, Vietnam has evolved beyond a mere production base to become a strategic hub undertaking both manufacturing and R&D functions within Samsung’s global operations. In addition to Samsung, other major groups from the RoK such as LG, Lotte, Hyundai, and SK Group have also identified Vietnam as an investment destination that cannot be overlooked.

The RoK FDI in Vietnam is concentrated in several sectors, notably manufacturing and processing industries. The RoK enterprises have made significant contributions to Vietnam’s growth model transformation and economic development over the years.

Ample room for growth in a rapidly expanding economy

Assessing Vietnam’s investment prospects in the coming period, Hong Sun, Honorary Chairman of the Korean Chamber of Business in Vietnam (KoCham), told the Newspaper of Industry and Trade that Vietnam is emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies in the region and the world. In 2025, Vietnam’s GDP expanded by 8.02%.

“This is an impressive result, far exceeding the expectations of many international organizations at a time when the global economy continues to grapple with inflation and supply chain disruptions. From the perspective of the RoK business community, this achievement affirms Vietnam’s strong internal capacity and the Government’s flexible governance,” Hong Sun said, adding that the 2025 GDP growth rate serves as a psychological springboard for Vietnam to achieve double-digit growth in 2026 and throughout the 2026-2030 period.

According to Hong Sun, Vietnam’s strong economic performance has influenced investment decisions and business strategies of the RoK enterprises in the country. “We are witnessing a wave of satellite companies in high-tech and renewable energy sectors flocking to Vietnam,” he noted, predicting that during 2026-2030, the RoK firms will shift from export-oriented processing to deeper manufacturing and technology development in Vietnam to capitalize on the advantages of a booming economy.

Sharing a similar view, Ko Tae Yeon, Chairman of the KoCham and General Director of Heesung Electronics Vietnam, said the RoK investment in Vietnam is expected to expand further into infrastructure, green growth, digital transformation and the artificial intelligence era, becoming reliable partners and long-term companions in Vietnam’s journey toward comprehensive and sustainable development.

During a working session in August 2025 with Kim Jung Kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the RoK, Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Finance, highly appreciated the role and contributions of the RoK investors in Vietnam. He affirmed that there remains substantial room for cooperation, especially as Vietnam accelerates its development trajectory. The Ministry of Finance pledged to continue improving the investment and business environment for the RoK enterprises in particular and the broader FDI sector in general.

To further facilitate the RoK enterprises operating in Vietnam, the KoCham has proposed that Vietnam enhance cooperation in vocational training and education, promote the development of skilled local human resources, and establish labor supply-demand coordination mechanisms between rural areas and industrial zones based on market needs, thereby supporting enterprises in recruiting qualified workers.