South Korea commits to Peru a several million-dollar investments in infrastructure and technology in 2026

South Korea has been making moves to expand its presence in infrastructure and technology in Latin America, with a special focus on projects financed under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) schemes and technical cooperation. The clearest sign of this was a high-level mission that evaluated opportunities to participate in a portfolio of projects for 2025–2026.

This interest was also expressed in urban and rail transport initiatives, where Korean authorities expressed their willingness to contribute technology, expertice, and comprehensive models (from design to operation). At the same time, Seoul is promoting sustainable mobility projects in Central America through financing and cooperation.

South Korea's investment in Peru would be US$70 billion. They also signed an agreement to supply advanced military equipment.

In addition to the “amount,” the key point is the method: it was agreed to move forward with technical meetings between Korean teams and Proinversión/MEF (Ministry of Economy and Finance) to review economic-financial models, contractual arrangements, and risk allocation, a common step before projects move on to the structuring and award stages.

Why is South Korea interested in Peru?

One underlying reason is that Peru is promoting a large and scheduled portfolio of works under PPPs (and other mechanisms), which opens up space for structured financing and companies with experience in executing complex projects. This was precisely what the MEF highlighted when reporting on the meeting with the Korean delegation.

In addition (based on official statements), Peru serves as a platform for South Korea to deploy its complete “package”: capital + engineering + technology + management in sectors where the Peruvian government seeks to quickly close gaps and meet high standards. Along these lines, the MTC itself has noted South Korea's interest in providing a comprehensive solution for railway projects.

Other South Korean projects in Peru: military cooperation

The bilateral agenda has also moved into defense. Reuters reported that South Korea signed an agreement to supply military equipment to the Peruvian Army: a framework for the acquisition of 195 units, including 54 K2 tanks and 141 wheeled armored vehicles, which would be South Korea's largest land export to Latin America.

According to the same information, the agreement involves cooperation between a South Korean defense firm and the Peruvian state-owned company in the sector. Although the amount was not specified, the announcement was presented as a milestone by the South Korean presidential office, due to the scope of the package and its strategic nature.