S.Korea, Blackstone to invest $4 bln in Korea

SEOUL, Oct 30 (Reuters) - South Korea's National Pension Service on Thursday said it had signed a preliminary agreement with private equity firm Blackstone Group (BX.N) to invest $2 billion each in the north Asian country.

"Blackstone plans to invest in alternative asset categories such as infrastructure and real estate as well as domestic stocks and bonds," a statement from the NPS said.

The deal comes as South Korea grapples with the fallout from the global financial crisis, with its won KRW= currency gyrating on persisting dollar shortages.

(Reporting by Marie-France Han; Editing by Keiron Henderson)