SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - The city of Gwangju plans to launch a committee to host South Korea’s next national artificial intelligence computing center, a project that local officials hope will anchor the city’s ambitions to become the country’s premier AI hub.
On Sept. 1, the city will hold a launch ceremony for the committee, a coalition spanning lawmakers, business groups, academics, media, religious figures and civil society organizations. The body is tasked with building consensus behind the bid, offering strategic advice and policy proposals, and promoting public support through outreach and networking efforts.
The computing center, envisioned as a hyperscale data hub, would serve as the centerpiece of Gwangju’s “AI-based industrial convergence cluster,” a long-term initiative to cultivate industries around artificial intelligence.
“Gwangju, with Korea’s only experience operating a national AI data center and a fully developed ecosystem of infrastructure, talent and companies, is now standing on the most advantageous ground,” Mayor Kang Gi-jung said. “We will secure the national AI computing center without fail and further strengthen Gwangju’s status as the nation’s leading AI hub city.”
The bid comes as the central government advances a new phase of Gwangju’s AI development strategy.
Earlier this month, President Lee Jae Myung approved a 600 billion won ($434 million) program to create an “AI Transformation demonstration valley,” expanding on a 430 billion won ($310 million) initiative launched five years ago that built core facilities, including a national AI data center and a large-scale driving simulator.
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