According to South Korean media EtNews, the Korea AI Computing Center (KOACC) was officially broken ground on August 3 in the Solar City data center park in Sunan County, Jeollanam-do. The total investment reaches 2.5 trillion KRW (approximately 11.838 billion RMB), with the goal of completion and operation by 2028. This is one of the largest national-level investment projects in AI infrastructure in South Korea so far.

The equity structure of the project reflects a strategic intention of deep government-business integration. Samsung SDS holds 30% and becomes the largest shareholder, while government agencies such as the Ministry of Science and Technology, Financial Supervisory Service, and National Growth Fund collectively hold 29%. NAVER Cloud follows closely with 26.1%. Companies such as Kakao, KT Group, Samsung Electronics, and Samsung C&T also participated in the investment, forming the KOACC alliance, which is responsible for the comprehensive construction and operation of the data center.

Targeting the Global Market, Competing for Computing Power Authority with High Cost-Effectiveness

After its completion, the data center will provide high-level, cost-effective AI computing facilities to the global market, aiming to secure a place for South Korea in the global AI computing power competition. Currently, the KOACC alliance has submitted an electricity application to the Korea Electric Power Corporation and is simultaneously advancing the construction of supporting infrastructure such as water supply pipelines.

In addition to commercial computing power rental services, the South Korean government has also planned a dedicated research area in the center, providing a verification environment for domestically developed NPU (Neural Processing Unit), promoting the acceleration of breakthroughs in the AI custom chip sector of the South Korean semiconductor industry. This layout means that the center is not only a computing power supply node but also a key test field for South Korea's strategy of semiconductor self-reliance.

From Samsung leading the initiative to government investment, from power infrastructure to chip development, this computing center carries not only 2.5 trillion KRW in infrastructure investment, but also South Korea's core bet on securing computing power autonomy in the global AI landscape. As AI computing infrastructure becomes the new focus of competition among major powers, South Korea's move is undoubtedly resolute.