[2025 Alternative Investment Forum] "Alternative Investment Should Also Focus on AI Infrastructure and Materials, Components, and Equipment"

3rd Asia Economy Alternative Investment Forum
Half of Global Investment Flows into AI
Preparing for the Expansion of the AI Value Chain

"The core keyword in global alternative investment is artificial intelligence (AI). Most investments in AI itself are concentrated in the United States. Korea should focus on infrastructure, materials, components, and equipment, which are bound to grow inevitably as the AI trend spreads."

Jang Beomsik, CEO of Asia Economy, is delivering the opening speech at the 3rd Asia Economy Alternative Investment Forum held at Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul on September 16, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

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At the 3rd Asia Economy Alternative Investment Forum held at Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul on September 16, speakers unanimously agreed that the importance of AI in alternative investments will inevitably increase.

Heo Yunhyeok, Head of Private Equity at Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), emphasized, "As the scale of AI investment grows, the boundaries between venture and growth companies have become blurred. We should seize infrastructure investment opportunities arising from the essential expansion of data centers and power demand driven by AI proliferation." He projected that annual power demand related to data centers is expected to surge by 12% to 16% each year going forward.

Park Kiho, CEO of LB Investment, said, "AI is advancing at a pace three to five times faster compared to the eras of the internet and mobile technology. In the first half of 2025, out of a total of 205 billion dollars, 104.3 billion dollars will be invested in AI, indicating the scale has grown significantly." He stressed, "Rather than trying to catch up with the United States, which accounts for 90% of global AI investment, Korean companies should focus on their strengths in application fields or in materials, components, and equipment as the value chain expands."

The forum, held under the theme "Global Great Transformation: Alternative Investment Strategies," was attended by more than 100 high-level officials from the financial investment industry, including Choi Woonyeol, President of the Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Seo Yooseok, Chairman of the Korea Financial Investment Association; Lim Yucheol, Chairman of the PEF Managers Association; as well as representatives from securities firms, asset management companies, private equity funds (PEF), and venture capital (VC) firms.

Jang Beomsik, CEO of Asia Economy, stated in his opening remarks, "We stand at a historic turning point where the global economic and political order is being reorganized. In this time of change, all players in the alternative investment market need insight and courage to find opportunities amid crisis."

Seo Yooseok, Chairman of the Korea Financial Investment Association, said in his congratulatory address, "Alternative investment expands the wealth of the nation and its people, serves as a means of diversification, and directly supplies venture capital to the real economy in three distinct ways. It is playing a crucial role as a funding channel essential for fostering new industries that the Korean economy needs most."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.