Gwangju Seeks Turnaround with NPU Center After AI Computing Center Bid Fails

Ando Geol: "Securing Core Infrastructure Is Urgent"
Government: "Considering Support for AI Pilot City"

After Gwangju failed to attract the National AI Computing Center, the city has officially announced plans to establish a National NPU (Neural Processing Unit) Computing Center as an alternative, drawing keen attention to the government's response. Related discussions are also continuing in the National Assembly, accelerating Gwangju's vision for its AI industry.

Ando Geol, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo provided by the office of Ando Geol

On November 7, Ando Geol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Gwangju Dongnam-eul, stated during the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts' comprehensive policy inquiry the previous day, "Establishing an NPU Computing Center is a core infrastructure for Gwangju to become a leading AI city," adding, "We need to address the disappointment of citizens caused by the failed bid for the AI Computing Center and secure NPU resources, which are advantageous for inference tasks."

Assemblyman Ando also proposed, "Along with NPU resources, it is necessary to build research and development facilities for the National AI Research Institute and expand GPU resources at the National AI Data Center in Gwangju." In response, Baek Kyunghoon, Minister of Science and ICT, said, "We are reviewing various collaborative measures to realize Gwangju as a pilot AI city." Prime Minister Kim Minseok also commented, "We are interested in building a pilot AI city and will swiftly prepare alternatives."

Previously, Mayor Kang Gijung of Gwangju stated that "establishing a National NPU-dedicated Computing Center is necessary to foster the domestic AI semiconductor and NPU industry ecosystem." Following this, the city plans to work with local political circles to include the related budget in the main budget and to conduct a feasibility study.

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