EQT taps ex-DHK Management CEO to lead S.Korea's real estate push

Europe's largest PEF has been investing in Korea since 2009 and expanded its presence with a Seoul office launch in 2023

Kim Dae-hyun, partner and head of EQT Real Estate Korea (Courtesy of EQT Partners) 
Kim Dae-hyun, partner and head of EQT Real Estate Korea (Courtesy of EQT Partners) 
Sookyung Seo 1
5 HOURS AGO skseo@hankyung.com
Private equity

Swedish asset manager EQT Partners, also the largest private equity firm in Europe, has named David Kim, chief executive of South Korean real estate investment firm DHK Management, as partner and head of its real estate investment operations in Korea, the company announced on Monday.

Kim, whose Korean name is Kim Dae-hyun, will oversee EQT’s real estate investment strategy and operations in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, which it considers a key market in its broader Asia Pacific strategy.

With nearly 30 years of experience in global real estate investment, Kim previously served as head of pan-Asian real estate at Japan’s Shinsei Bank before leading DHK Management. He also worked for various US banks.

He graduated from the University of Chicago with a major in Economics and earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

EQT, under the umbrella of Europe's powerful Wallenberg family dynasty, has been investing in Korea since 2009 and expanded its presence with a Seoul office launch in 2023.

As of March 2025, Stockholm-based EQT managed approximately 273 billion euros ($315.5 billion) in assets globally.

Write to Sookyung Seo at skseo@hankyung.com
Jennifer Nicholson-Breen edited this article.

EQT set to invest in KKR-backed fashion unicorn Musinsa

EQT set to invest in KKR-backed fashion unicorn Musinsa

A Musinsa outlet in Lotte Time Villas, a shopping mall in Suwon, South Korea (Courtesy of Musinsa) EQT, Europe's largest private equity firm, is set to invest 20 billion to 30 billion won ($14 million-$21 million) in Musinsa, South Korea’s fashion unicorn backed by KKR Co. and Wellington

EQT targets healthcare, technology, business service providers in Korea

EQT targets healthcare, technology, business service providers in Korea

Jean Eric Salata, chairman of EQT Asia EQT, the largest private equity firm in Europe, is setting its sights on healthcare, technology companies and business service providers in South Korea. The Swedish investment firm is also looking at companies with room to grow through digitalization, or b

EQT sees huge potential in security services for S.Korean SMEs

EQT sees huge potential in security services for S.Korean SMEs

Suh Sang-jun, managing director at EQT Partner's Seoul office The digital security market is rapidly growing in South Korea, one of the world’s fastest-aging countries and amid its soaring labor costs. Security systems are emerging as a key to sustainable growth for small- and mid-si

EQT Partners to acquire S.Korea’s SK Shieldus for $2.3 bn

EQT Partners to acquire S.Korea’s SK Shieldus for $2.3 bn

SK Shieldus' cybersecurity control center, Secudium (Courtesy of SK Shieldus) EQT Partners AB, the world’s third-largest private equity firm, is poised to buy a controlling stake in South Korean security service provider SK Shieldus Co. for more than 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion), aiming

EQT chairman sees technology and services as attractive sectors in Korea

EQT chairman sees technology and services as attractive sectors in Korea

Conni Jonsson, founder and chairman of EQT (Photo by Shin Kyong-Hoon) High price tags of target companies can be justified if you understand long-term trends of the industry and have expertise in the sectors, Conni Jonsson, founder and chairman of Swedish investment company EQT Partners AB, sai

Sweden's EQT staffs up in Asia with focus on Korea

Sweden's EQT staffs up in Asia with focus on Korea

EQT Partners CEO Christian Sinding EQT Partners, Europe's largest private equity firm, is staffing up its Asia Pacific team with a focus on South Korea, the investment firm said on Monday, as it is considering more varied strategies for a broader range of targets. The Stockholm-listed firm with