Korea Vietnam shift to AI and energy alliance

Apr 24, 2026, 08:23 am

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A view of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquarters building. / KCCI

South Korea and Vietnam are rapidly shifting their economic cooperation beyond manufacturing toward advanced industries such as artificial intelligence, energy, and talent development.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it successfully hosted the Korea–Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi on April 23, on the occasion of President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit. Around 500 key figures from government and business sectors of both countries, including Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, attended the event to discuss a new framework for cooperation.

From the Korean side, major business leaders including Chey Tae-won, Lee Jae-yong, Koo Kwang-mo, and Shin Dong-bin took part, alongside representatives from 109 companies in the economic delegation.

In his opening remarks, Chey emphasized a shift in perspective, urging that Vietnam should no longer be seen merely as a “land of opportunity” but as “a partner in shaping future growth.” He called for expanding cooperation beyond trade volumes into value-creating sectors such as AI, advanced technology, and green energy.

Reflecting this direction, the forum centered on four key growth drivers under the “N.E.X.T.” agenda: nurturing talent, energy, AI transformation, and science and technology.

Companies presented concrete strategies to maximize bilateral synergies. Samsung Electronics introduced plans for next-generation talent development, including smart factory support, while SK Innovation outlined a roadmap for building power infrastructure to support AI ecosystems.

The vision quickly translated into tangible outcomes, with more than 70 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and agreements signed across sectors.

For digital infrastructure, SK Innovation, SK Telecom, and Daewoo Engineering & Construction agreed with local partners and authorities to develop AI data centers.

In the battery sector, POSCO Future M completed administrative steps to establish a plant for artificial graphite anodes, accelerating supply chain localization.

Energy cooperation also advanced, with Doosan Enerbility strengthening collaboration on next-generation nuclear power, and Taihan Cable & Solution agreeing to build ultra-high-voltage power infrastructure.

Ahead of the main forum, 26 top business leaders from both countries held a separate high-level meeting, reaffirming Vietnam’s strategic importance and agreeing to expand cooperation in areas such as smart cities and future infrastructure.

#Korea Vietnam #AI partnership #energy cooperation #SK Group #Samsung Electronics