The South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT held a briefing session at the Bankers Club in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the establishment of a “National AI Computing Center”, which will see an investment of up to 2.5 trillion won. The session outlined the project schedule and how to apply for a power grid impact assessment.
The government aims to position South Korea as one of the top three AI powerhouses alongside the US and China by constructing the National AI Computing Center. The briefing attracted significant interest, with big tech companies, investors, platform companies, and cloud service providers attending, leading to an increase in available seating beyond the initially planned 300 seats.
The National AI Computing Center will be located outside the capital region and will be built by a public-private joint special purpose corporation (SPC), with public and private investments at a 51% and 49% ratio, respectively, totaling 400 billion won. The Industrial Bank of Korea and Korea Development Bank will provide up to 15% each of the SPC’s share capital and offer investment funds of 2 to 2.5 trillion won through low-interest policy financing until 2027.
The center aims for a GPU capacity of 1 exaflop, with expectations of reaching 2 exaflops if private sector contributions are included. Song Sang-hoon, head of ICT Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, highlighted the importance of the National AI Computing Center in maintaining competitive AI infrastructure, asserting that its success is critical to South Korea’s AI competitiveness.
The government plans to establish an AI computing development strategy in the first quarter, encompassing regulatory improvements, R&D, and talent development, while encouraging private sector participation. Those interested in participating must submit their letters of intent by the 28th.
Considering power shortages in the capital area and regional balanced development, the center will be built outside the capital, with the site and power supply solutions proposed by the private sector. The government is preparing to expedite the power grid impact assessment results for applying companies.
Participants should propose models for AI computing services, service provision plans, roadmaps, and additional service plans considering public interest and profitability, to stimulate the domestic AI industry. The services must be offered at affordable prices to support AI R&D for universities, research institutes, SMEs, and startups, and propose ways to promote domestic AI semiconductors.
The government, through the “AI Computing Infrastructure Special Committee” under the National AI Committee, is focusing administrative and policy efforts on early service commencement by the end of the year and opening by 2027.