Gwangju Launches Committee to Attract National AI Computing Center

Launching the "Gwangju One Team" for National AI Hub
Inaugural Ceremony at the National Assembly on September 1 with Broad Participation

National AI Data Center. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City, which brands itself as the "AI-Centric City," is making an all-out effort to attract the National AI Computing Center. Following the Ministry of Science and ICT's announcement on August 22 regarding the exemption of the preliminary feasibility study for the second phase of the AI project, known as the "AX (AI Transformation) Demonstration Valley Project," Gwangju is taking further steps to establish itself as Korea's leading AI hub by seeking to host the National AI Computing Center.

On September 1 at 11 a.m., Gwangju City will hold an inaugural ceremony for the "Gwangju Committee for Attracting the National AI Computing Center" (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) at Seminar Room 2 of the National Assembly Members' Office Building, declaring its firm commitment to becoming the core hub of Korea's AI industry.

The Committee includes participants from various sectors such as lawmakers, economic organizations, industry, media, religious communities, and civic groups. Going forward, the Committee plans to mobilize local capabilities and raise awareness of the necessity and justification for attracting the National AI Computing Center to Gwangju through: ▲ strategic advisory activities, ▲ policy proposals to the government and expert networking, and ▲ nationwide publicity and consensus-building efforts.

During the inaugural ceremony, there will be presentations on the progress of Gwangju's AI industry initiatives and the necessity of attracting the National AI Computing Center. Key figures will deliver speeches and read a resolution, emphasizing both the need for national-level, large-scale AI infrastructure and Gwangju's strengths as the optimal location.

The National AI Computing Center is a core strategy for Gwangju to establish itself as a true AI-centric city. The city has already built up AI infrastructure and an ecosystem through the "AI-Centric Industrial Convergence Complex Project." By attracting the National AI Computing Center, Gwangju aims to secure high-performance computing resources essential for AI R&D and maximize synergistic effects with local industries.

To this end, the city has submitted multiple proposals to the government and proactively prepared land, power, and other necessary infrastructure for the data center in the Advanced District 3.

Notably, during the presidential campaign, President Lee Jaemyung pledged to establish the National AI Computing Center in Gwangju. This commitment was reaffirmed in the "Five-Year National Administration Plan of the Lee Jaemyung Government," which includes the goal of securing 50,000 GPUs as part of the "New Government Growth Strategy," as well as the establishment of the National AI Computing Center in the "Gwangju Regional Pledge."

Furthermore, Gwangju City maintains that attracting the National AI Computing Center is essential for the creation of an "AI National Pilot City," in connection with the recently approved 600 billion won AX Demonstration Valley Project, which was exempted from the preliminary feasibility study as part of the second phase of the AI initiative.

Mayor Kang Gijung stated, "With the unique experience of operating Korea's only National AI Data Center and a well-established AI ecosystem of infrastructure, talent, and companies, Gwangju is in the most advantageous position to be designated as an AI convergence complex. We will secure the 'National AI Computing Center,' the core infrastructure of the 'Sovereign AI' strategy, and further solidify Gwangju's status as an AI-centric city."

Meanwhile, the National AI Computing Center is envisioned as a massive data center to be built through a public-private special purpose company (SPC) with a total investment of up to 2.5 trillion won. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to announce detailed application guidelines in September after review by the National AI Strategy Committee.

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