Gwangju City Launches National Artificial Intelligence Data Center

NHN Corp. to Invest Additional 210 Billion KRW to Foster AI Industry Ecosystem

President Moon Jae-in: "Will Become a Forward Base to Realize the Dream of AI-Powered Korea"

Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "Will Secure Global Competitiveness by Convergin

On the morning of the 4th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, attended the National Artificial Intelligence Data Center Investment Agreement and Groundbreaking Ceremony held at the Multipurpose Hall of Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu. He presented the progress and future plans for promoting the AI era in Gwangju under the theme "The Beginning of a Dream, Gwangju." Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The 'National Artificial Intelligence Data Center,' which will become the core hub of artificial intelligence in the Republic of Korea, held its groundbreaking ceremony on the 4th, marking the official start of the project.

Gwangju Metropolitan City and the AI Industry Convergence Project Group under the Ministry of Science and ICT held the 'National AI Data Center Investment Agreement and Groundbreaking Ceremony' at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on the morning of the same day, under the slogan 'The Beginning of a Dream, Gwangju.'

The event was attended by about 60 people, including Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City; Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science and ICT; Yoon Seong-ro, Chairman of the 4th Industrial Revolution Committee; Jung Woo-jin, CEO of NHN Co., Ltd.; Kim Yong-jip, Chairman of the Gwangju City Council; city council members; and other key local figures. The ceremony proceeded in the order of the national anthem, a video congratulatory message from President Moon Jae-in, a theme video screening, presentations on the promotion and future plans of the AI Gwangju era, introduction of the National AI Data Center, and the investment agreement.

President Moon Jae-in, in his video congratulatory message, said, “The National AI Convergence Complex, located in Gwangju's Advanced 3 District, will house infrastructure for startups, research, talent development, and the world's top-level AI Data Center. This place will serve as the forward base to realize Korea's dream of becoming a leading AI powerhouse beyond being an information and communication powerhouse in the post-COVID-19 era.”

President Moon added, “Gwangju, known for democracy and the May spirit, has pioneered regionally symbiotic jobs through labor-management harmony, which is spreading nationwide, and is now advancing again through AI. The government will spread the AI enthusiasm to regions and the private sector so that Gwangju's dream, like regionally symbiotic jobs, reaches more regions and more young people.”

He also stated, “The government will promote AI regional hubs by combining representative local industries with AI and actively support regional balanced New Deal through AI technology to reduce disparities between the metropolitan area and regions, and between urban and rural areas.”

Mayor Lee Yong-seop personally announced the progress and future plans for the 'AI Gwangju Era,' pledging, “We will support Gwangju to become the top AI nation of Korea by creating a world-class AI cluster.”

He asserted, “The AI Industry Convergence Cluster being established in Gwangju will become the heart of Korea's AI by concentrating a massive data dam, world-class computing resources, and infrastructure for startups, research, and talent development in one place.”

He further said, “The data collected at the AI Data Center to be built this time will be fully open for anyone to share, supporting various R&D and fostering diverse industries as an optimal cloud platform. In particular, we will secure Gwangju's unique global competitiveness by converging AI with Gwangju's main industries such as automobiles, energy, healthcare, and cultural contents.”

He continued, “The special DNA of Gwangju citizens? a sense of mission leading the era's development, strong problem awareness and spirit of challenge, creativity and imagination dreaming of a new world?combined with a world-class AI cluster will open an AI Gwangju era that no one can follow and support Korea as the top AI nation.” He requested the government to enact a basic data law, revise AI-related laws, ease regulations, and provide focused support.

Following this, Gwangju Metropolitan City signed a business agreement with NHN Co., Ltd. and the AI Industry Convergence Project Group to create an AI industrial ecosystem in Gwangju.

Through the agreement, NHN Co., Ltd. will invest an additional 210 billion KRW to cooperate in ▲building the largest AI Data Center in Korea ▲establishing the Gwangju AI R&D Center and hiring specialized personnel ▲training AI experts through the operation of NHN Academy.

Also, NHN Co., Ltd. plans to provide data services to companies starting from April using its own cloud before the AI Data Center opens in 2023.

Jung Woo-jin, CEO of NHN Co., Ltd., emphasized, “AI is a core area that Korea must focus on for the future. Data centers are essential facilities for advanced technologies such as AI, big data, autonomous driving, and healthcare, which are gaining attention and need to be serviced online.”

He added, “We will complete the construction of the largest data center in Korea with 88.5 petaflops of computing performance in Advanced 3 District, supporting AI R&D for companies, research institutes, and universities. At the same time, we will continuously discover and cooperate with capable companies to ensure the healthy growth and development of the local IT ecosystem.”

The National AI Convergence Complex to be built in Advanced 3 District will be nurtured as Korea's core AI hub by concentrating an AI data dam, top-level computing resources, and infrastructure for startups, research, and talent development in one place.

In particular, the National AI Data Center, to be constructed by 2023, will be based on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) with 88.5 petaflops (PF) and 107 petabytes (PB), making it the largest in Korea and among the top 10 worldwide. It will be more than three times faster than the currently operating NURION No. 5.

It will provide computing resources that allow startups, ventures, and unicorn companies to perform research, product development, and service execution in an integrated environment. It plans to optimize and provide various development environments and software solution services such as development tools, programming languages, and solutions for AI research.

It will also establish a system to verify and demonstrate AI semiconductors, the foundational industry of AI, and operate a platform to support the entire cycle from product development to sales activities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.