Ahnlab Plans 100 Billion Won Investment in AI-Native Cybersecurity

South Korean cybersecurity company Ahnlab plans to invest 100 billion won over the next three years as it seeks to reorganize its business around artificial intelligence and subscription-based services.

The company announced the plan at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, describing its goal as a transition into an “AI-native” cybersecurity provider. The investment will be directed toward AI infrastructure, stronger research and development capabilities, and the recruitment of people with AI expertise.

The initiative represents a significant expansion strategy for a company best known in South Korea for its V3 antivirus software. Founded in 1995, Ahnlab has grown into the country’s largest cybersecurity company, but its new targets point to a broader effort to build recurring revenue and compete in overseas markets.

Chief Executive Kang Suk-kyoon said Ahnlab aims to increase annual sales from an expected 300 billion won this year to 1 trillion won by 2035. Reaching that target would require average yearly growth of about 15 percent. Kang said the company considers the goal attainable based on its recent growth trajectory.

Ahnlab may use mergers, acquisitions or additional investments to help expand its scale. The company also wants overseas markets to account for 30 percent of sales by 2035, up from about 10 percent currently. As part of that push, it plans to establish a cyber defense center in the Middle East.

The overseas strategy is tied to rising demand for locally controlled data and AI systems. Governments and businesses are paying closer attention to data sovereignty, AI sovereignty and the security of digital infrastructure, creating opportunities for cybersecurity providers able to tailor services to regional requirements.

The company’s financial results show the size of the growth challenge. Ahnlab reported 130.37 billion won in sales and 7.3 billion won in operating profit for the first six months of this year. Its 2035 sales objective would therefore require sustained expansion well beyond its current base.

The plan places AI at the center of both Ahnlab’s products and internal capabilities. The success of the strategy will depend on whether the company can turn its planned infrastructure and talent spending into subscription services that attract customers at home and abroad while maintaining profitability during the investment period.