South Korea has officially begun construction on the National AI Computing Center, a key project aimed at expanding the country's AI infrastructure.
The Ministry of Science and ICT held a groundbreaking ceremony on August 3 at the Solarido Data Center Park in Haenam, Jeonnam. Attendees included Deputy Prime Minister Baek Kyung-hwan, lawmakers Park Ji-won, Han Jun-ho, and Ahn Do-geol, as well as Jeonnam Gwangju Mayor Min Hyung-bae, Samsung SDS CEO Lee Joon-hee, and Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yoo-won.
Deputy Prime Minister Baek stated, "Today marks a historic moment as South Korea's AI computing era officially begins. Korea will not only be a country that utilizes AI or supplies AI memory semiconductors but will grow into a core nation in the AI supply chain."
The National AI Computing Center project faced two failed bids due to concerns over low profitability. However, recent discussions on investments from domestic and international companies, including big tech firms, have improved the project's prospects. The government plans to develop the center not just as basic infrastructure but as an industrial hub for export.
Samsung SDS, as the leading company in the consortium, has spearheaded the establishment of Coak, which will oversee the center's construction and operation. CEO Lee Joon-hee emphasized the importance of a collaborative model between the government and private sector to enhance South Korea's AI competitiveness, stating, "As the largest shareholder, I feel a significant sense of responsibility."
Lee outlined three main objectives: building top-tier AI infrastructure, expanding public-private partnerships, and promoting regional growth. The aim is to create a high-performance, efficient computing environment that can quickly respond to global technological changes and support the AI computing needs of industry, academia, and research.
Efforts will also be made to enhance synergies from public-private cooperation and strengthen communication with relevant agencies to ensure that the center's establishment contributes to national industrial competitiveness and revitalizes the local economy. The goal is to foster an industrial ecosystem in Haenam and the Jeonnam Gwangju area, attracting talent and companies related to AI data centers.
Before the center's completion in 2028, some AI computing resources will be provided early from the Samsung SDS data center in 2027. After the center becomes fully operational in 2028, it will supply high-performance AI infrastructure to industry, academia, and research, while also supporting the design, prototyping, and commercial operation of domestic AI semiconductors through a dedicated R&D zone.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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