The government has officially begun construction of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computing Center, which will serve as a key hub for the 'AI Highway.' The initiative aims to enhance the domestic AI ecosystem by securing advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) and fostering the development of domestic AI semiconductors, positioning Haenam as an AI infrastructure hub in Asia.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on August 3 that the groundbreaking ceremony for the National AI Computing Center took place at the Solarido Data Center Park in Haenam, Jeollanam-do.
The National AI Computing Center will be a core infrastructure of the 'AI Highway,' aimed at securing the latest AI computing resources to create an environment for AI research, development, and services, while also promoting the activation of domestic AI semiconductors to support the growth of the domestic AI ecosystem.
The Samsung SDS consortium submitted a sole bid for the Haenam Solarido site. Following evaluations of technology, policy, and financial assessments, as well as approval from the National Growth Fund, the Samsung SDS consortium, which includes Naver Cloud, Samsung C&T, Kakao, Samsung Electronics, Clutch, KT, the Jeollanam-do and Gwangju Metropolitan City, and the Southwest Coast Enterprise City Development, was ultimately selected.
Additionally, a joint public-private investment was established in June 2026, forming the Korea AI Computing Center Corporation (referred to as Coark) with contributions from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Financial Services Commission's National Growth Fund, and the Samsung SDS consortium. This initiative aims to consolidate private capital and expertise based on public investment. Coark will be responsible for the construction and operation of the National AI Computing Center.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Lee Kyung-sik, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won, Democratic Party lawmaker Han Jun-ho, Gwangju Metropolitan City Mayor Min Hyung-bae, Coark CEO Ahn Jung-tae, Samsung SDS CEO Lee Joon-hee, and Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yoo-won, among others from the government, National Assembly, local governments, the private consortium, and financial institutions.
The ceremony included an opening declaration, a project progress report, welcoming remarks from key guests, a vision announcement, a promotional video screening, and a commemorative ceremony for the groundbreaking.
Coark plans to actively pursue the construction of the National AI Computing Center. To secure the necessary power and water for the center's operation, they have completed an electricity usage application with Korea Electric Power Corporation and are preparing infrastructure, including water supply pipeline construction. They also plan to carry out building construction and facility work for high-performance AI server operations, aiming to complete the National AI Computing Center by 2028.
Notably, before the center's completion in 2027, some AI computing resources planned for the National AI Computing Center will be provided early from Samsung SDS's data center. This proactive approach aims to address the urgent demand for AI computing infrastructure from academia, industry, and research.
Once established, the National AI Computing Center will offer world-class AI computing infrastructure at reasonable prices for academia, industry, and research, actively responding to the government's demand for AI innovation and supporting the activation of the domestic AI ecosystem.
The center will also create a research and development zone to provide a validation environment for the design and prototype development of domestic AI semiconductors, supporting the commercialization of verified products.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to collaborate with the Financial Services Commission and others to actively review policy support for the initial smooth operation of the National AI Computing Center, including demand linkage and funding acquisition.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Lee Kyung-sik stated, "Through the National AI Computing Center, the government and private sector will work together to secure advanced GPUs and promote the activation of domestic AI semiconductors, contributing to the competitiveness of the AI full stack and aiming to become an AI infrastructure hub in Asia. I expect the Haenam Solarido Data Center Park to become a key base for three major mega projects, serving as a balanced development model for regional and national growth based on abundant renewable energy and expandable locations."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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