CBRE and Korea Ocean Business Corporation sign MOU to support Korean logistics investment in the United States

CBRE and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding, establishing a framework for collaboration on industrial and logistics real estate investment across the United States.

The agreement was signed at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce in Duluth, Georgia. KOBC is a Korean government-affiliated policy institution focused on strengthening Korea's logistics and supply chain infrastructure globally. In 2024, KOBC established its Global Logistics & Supply Chain Fund I, a KRW 200 billion fund. KOBC plans to launch a second fund targeting KRW 300 billion in the second half of 2026.

Under the MOU, CBRE will leverage its industry-leading Industrial & Logistics platform, national market coverage, and cross-border advisory capabilities to support KOBC in identifying and evaluating investment opportunities aligned with its strategic objectives, including logistics centers, warehouses, and port-adjacent assets.

The partnership comes at a time when Korean companies and institutional investors continue to expand their presence throughout North America, driven by manufacturing growth, evolving supply chains, and increasing demand for strategically located industrial real estate.

“The movement of Korean capital into the U.S. industrial market continues to accelerate, creating significant opportunities for investors, developers, occupiers, and local communities,” said Jae Kim, First Vice President, Advisory & Transaction Services and East Coast Korea Desk Lead at CBRE.

“This partnership establishes a trusted platform to connect Korean institutions with opportunities throughout the United States while providing the local market expertise, execution capabilities, and strategic advisory services needed to navigate an increasingly complex industrial landscape. We see this as the beginning of a long-term collaboration that will benefit clients on both sides of the Pacific.”

John Ferguson, President of Advisory Services for CBRE in Atlanta, added. "The Southeast has absorbed more industrial capital in the past five years than at any point in its history, and Korean institutional investors have been among the most active participants. Formalizing this relationship with KOBC reflects where the capital is moving and who CBRE is positioned to serve."