Seoul: SK Group has announced a groundbreaking investment plan of 2,100 trillion won (US$1,361 billion) to bolster South Korea's artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure nationwide. This ambitious plan aligns with the government's strategy to stimulate balanced regional development and transform the nation into a technological frontrunner in the AI era.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the announcement follows President Lee Jae Myung's introduction of the "three megaprojects" initiative, intended to enhance the country's competitive edge in advanced technologies. SK Group has committed 1,100 trillion won to develop an "AI memory production belt." This belt aims to connect the semiconductor hub in Yongin with Cheongju and the southwestern region.
SK Group plans to establish a new SK hynix Inc. production base in the southwestern region. This decision is in response to government efforts to expand necessary infrastructure, including electricity and water supplies. The company emphasized that this initiative would enhance existing production facilities and create next-generation production hubs, ensuring a stable supply chain for AI memory chips amid growing global demand.
Furthermore, SK hynix intends to expedite the completion of the Yongin cluster by 2033, ahead of its original 2045 target, to cater to the increasing global need for AI chips. Meanwhile, SK Telecom Co., the conglomerate's mobile carrier unit, will spearhead a 1,000 trillion-won project to establish AI data centers with a total power capacity of 15 gigawatts.
The business group highlighted South Korea's stable power supply and robust AI chip production capacity as key factors making the country an attractive location for AI data centers. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won reinforced the conglomerate's commitment to transitioning South Korea from an "AI consumer" to an "intelligence exporter." Chey emphasized the importance of exporting intelligence and developing a domestic market for AI-driven intelligence. To achieve this, SK Group plans to swiftly establish AI factories in the form of large-scale AI data centers.