Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung: "We Must Not Miss the Golden Time for AI Advancement"

Press Conference at the National Assembly: Presenting "Three Key Directions for AI Leadership"
"Attracting the National AI Computing Center to Gwangju, Equipped with Infrastructure"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is holding a press conference on securing AI-related budgets on the morning of the 10th at the National Assembly communication office in Seoul, together with lawmakers Jo Incheol, Ahn Dogeol, and Jeon Jinsuk. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung stated on the 10th, "At a time when the world is fiercely competing for AI leadership, South Korea will only have an opportunity if we secure both speed and concentration," as he presented "three key directions to enhance South Korea's AI competitiveness" based on "speed" and "concentration."

The three directions outlined by Mayor Kang are: ▲Immediate acquisition of 10,000 GPUs ▲Securing additional operating budget to enable 100% utilization of the National AI Data Center ▲Attracting the National AI Computing Center to Gwangju.

Mayor Kang emphasized, "Gwangju is the only city in Korea that operates the National AI Data Center, has accumulated ample experience connecting infrastructure, businesses, and talent, and possesses regional strengths such as abundant electricity and available land," adding, "Gwangju is the optimal location to unlock South Korea's AI growth potential."

On this day, Mayor Kang held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center with lawmakers Ahn Dogeol, Cho Incheol, and Jeon Jinsook, expressing support for the government's recent announcement to secure 10,000 GPUs and establish a National AI Computing Center. He stressed, "For the government's efforts to shine even brighter, we must accelerate the utilization of the already established National AI Data Center in Gwangju and the localization of foreign AI semiconductors to strengthen sovereignty in AI semiconductors."

The development and commercialization of high-performance domestic AI semiconductors is a core task to ensure the sustainability of all industries. Based on its experience over the past three years in conducting demonstration and verification projects for domestic AI semiconductors with Korean companies, Gwangju intends to foster the AI semiconductor ecosystem in cooperation with the government.

Mayor Kang pointed out, "Due to martial law and impeachment, the government budget was not reflected in time, and it is anticipated that only half of the GPU resources at the Gwangju National AI Data Center will be utilized, causing the second phase of Gwangju's AX demonstration project, which had been progressing smoothly, to drift." He added, "It is contradictory to discuss building larger infrastructure when we cannot even use the infrastructure that has already been established."

He continued, "Gwangju, which owns 880 H100 units, has a ladder for nurturing AI talent, and has experience in establishing and operating the National AI Data Center, must not come to a halt."

He further stated, as one of the three key directions to enhance South Korea's AI competitiveness, "To strengthen South Korea's AI competitiveness, we must immediately secure 10,000 GPUs," and requested, "These should be installed in Gwangju, where the National AI Data Center is located."

He also said, "The operating budget must be included in this supplementary budget so that the resources of Gwangju's National AI Data Center can be utilized 100%." He explained that operating at only 50% capacity cannot meet the nationwide AI demand pouring in, so budget support must be expedited to achieve full operation.

Mayor Kang emphasized, "I hope Gwangju will be chosen as the location for the National AI Computing Center," adding, "Gwangju is the only city equipped with a 9,000-pyeong site, sufficient electricity, and experience in operating the National AI Data Center."

Currently, Gwangju has achieved results such as: ▲Operating the only National AI Data Center in Korea ▲Establishing demonstration equipment ▲Running an AI Academy ▲Concentrating 276 AI companies including Furiosa ▲Producing over 11,000 talents ▲Supporting over 2,000 AI R&D projects for more than 900 companies nationwide, thus completing a self-sustaining AI ecosystem connecting 'infrastructure, companies, and talent.'

Meanwhile, Mayor Kang stated, "AI is not just Gwangju's task, but a project to unlock South Korea's growth potential," and added, "Only through close cooperation between the government and local authorities and continuous investment can South Korea's AI leap forward."

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