Myung Hyun-kwan, the chief of Haenam County, presented a vision for the future of Haenam as a key hub for South Korea's artificial intelligence (AI) industry, emphasizing his commitment to administrative support for the seamless advancement of the National AI Computing Center project.
During a regular staff meeting on August 4, Myung reflected on the significance of the groundbreaking ceremony held the previous day at the Solarido Data Center Park, stating, "The groundbreaking of the National AI Computing Center marks the starting point for South Korea to become one of the top three AI powerhouses. I find it very meaningful that this historic project began in Haenam, and I thank the residents for their support."
Myung also shared insights from a meeting with key figures from the government, National Assembly, and local governments, recalling the process of securing the National AI Computing Center.
He noted, "When Haenam was selected last year, there were concerns about the project's success. However, within just a few months, the government's strong commitment and local cooperation have increased confidence in the project's success."
Myung expressed pride in sharing this historic moment with the residents, stating, "We are at the starting point of a new path that no one has traveled before, but since this project is crucial for the nation's future, we will pursue it with confidence and determination."
He also praised the role of local public officials in the lead-up to the groundbreaking, saying, "The fact that we reached this point in just 10 months since the site was confirmed last October is thanks to the swift and accurate administrative support from our officials. Haenam's administrative capabilities, aligned with the government's AI industry development policies, have led to meaningful results."
Haenam County is establishing a one-stop administrative support system to facilitate the project, quickly completing the necessary permits related to the National AI Computing Center. The county plans to continue enhancing infrastructure and administrative support to ensure the smooth progress of this national strategic project.
Myung also outlined follow-up tasks to establish a foundation for future growth. He emphasized the need to improve living conditions, push for the enactment of the Special Act on Renewable Energy Self-Sufficient Cities currently pending in the National Assembly, and promote the establishment of the RE100 national industrial complex. Additionally, he mentioned efforts to include the construction of a high-speed highway connecting Gwangju and Solarido in Haenam, as well as a high-speed rail line linking Seoul, Haenam, and Wando in the fifth national railway network construction plan.
Myung stated, "After over six years of steady preparation under challenging conditions to attract future industries, we have finally achieved our first success with the National AI Computing Center. We will continue to enhance Haenam's competitiveness as a center for South Korea's AI and energy industries, with the determination to leave hope for future generations."
Meanwhile, the National AI Computing Center is a key infrastructure project supporting the government's AI competitiveness enhancement policy, to be established at the Solarido Data Center Park in Haenam. The total project cost is 2.4065 trillion won, with plans to install 15,000 high-performance GPUs by 2028 and expand to 50,000 by 2030, operating as a national AI computing hub to support ultra-large AI research and industrial innovation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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