Crisis Management for a Conflict with North Korea

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Six out of Ten Large Companies Hesitate to Invest Next Year

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Dec. 9, 2025 | UndeterminedInvestor Sentiment

As of December 2025, sixty percent of Korea's top 500 companies remain hesitant to commit to investment plans for the upcoming year. A survey by the Korea Economic Association of Entrepreneurs revealed that 43.6% of companies have yet to finalize their investment strategies, while 15.5% have no plans to invest. This reluctance is driven by high exchange rates, overlapping domestic and international risks, and an uncertain economic outlook.

Among companies with undecided plans, key reasons include internal issues such as organizational restructuring (37.5%), the need to assess global and domestic risks (25.0%), and economic unpredictability (18.8%). For the 40.9% who have established investment plans, over half intend to maintain their current investment levels, a third plan to reduce investment, and only 13.3% aim to increase it. Those reducing or forgoing investments cited economic pessimism (26.9%), exchange rate pressures and rising raw material costs (19.4%), and a contracting domestic market (17.2%).

Companies opting to expand investments focus primarily on pursuing future industry opportunities and enhancing competitiveness (38.9%) and upgrading aging facilities (22.2%). Regarding artificial intelligence, 36.4% of respondents are either committed to or considering AI investments, primarily targeting production and operational efficiency (55.1%), improved management decision-making (15.3%), and product and service innovation (12.7%).

The top risks influencing investment decisions include the spread of protectionism and supply chain instability (23.7%), economic slowdowns in major economies like the U.S. and China (22.5%), and high exchange rates (15.2%). Domestically, companies highlight taxes and charges (21.7%), labor market regulations (17.1%), and investment-related restrictions such as permits and site location rules (14.4%) as significant obstacles.

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