'AI Hanam' Sets Sail... Launch of the 'Innovation Outpost' That Will Redraw Korea's Advanced Industrial Landscape

Hanam City Holds Opening Ceremony for 'Hanam AI Innovation Cluster'

Establishing a Hub for Fostering Customized AI Startups, Including High-Performance GPU Infrastructure Support

A ‘Stepping Stone’ for Creating a 3 Trillion Won Large-Scale Cluster in Gyosan New Town

Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province has established a hub for fostering businesses in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), a core future strategic industry, and has officially begun its journey to become a cutting-edge industrial city.

Lee Hyun-jae, Mayor of Hanam City, is delivering a greeting at the opening ceremony of the 'Hanam AI Innovation Cluster' held on the 21st at the Hanam Startup Campus located on the 3rd floor of the Korea Development Bank Digital Square (KDB Industrial Bank IT Center). Provided by Hanam City

On April 21, Hanam City announced that it held the opening ceremony for the 'Hanam AI Innovation Cluster' at the Hanam Startup Campus, located on the 3rd floor of the Korea Development Bank Digital Square (KDB Bank IT Center).

The event was attended by over 30 people, including Lee Hyunjae, Mayor of Hanam, representatives from Gyeonggi Province, Gyeonggi Institute of Economics & Science (GIES), Korea Development Bank, Hanam Urban Corporation, tenant companies, and local community leaders, who gathered to celebrate the establishment of the city's new AI industry hub.

The newly opened 'Hanam AI Innovation Cluster' is a key base designed to create and nurture customized AI startup spaces based on local demand. The city invested 580 million won in provincial government funding secured through a Gyeonggi Province contest project to build the cluster within a 587-square-meter area inside the Hanam Startup Campus.

Starting in May, four promising AI companies selected through an open call will move in and begin full-scale technology development and commercialization efforts.

The city will provide tenant companies with high-performance GPU infrastructure, offering H100 and RTX4090 specifications, as well as smart office space and comprehensive support through customized growth programs including the latest technology seminars, education, and consulting.

Of particular note, during the 'Resident AI Companies Vision Talk' session held on the day of the opening ceremony, CEOs of the tenant companies directly shared their business visions and presented growth blueprints based on the city's industrial infrastructure, drawing attention.

This opening ceremony is especially meaningful as it marks the starting point for Hanam City's large-scale AI initiatives. The city is currently promoting the creation of a 'Large-scale AI Innovation Cluster' worth approximately 3 trillion won within the self-sufficient land in the Gyosan New Town area. This project involves top domestic and international academic and industry partners such as Carnegie Mellon University, POSTECH, and KT, and will include an AI graduate school, a bio research complex, and supercomputer data infrastructure. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, and upon completion, the project is expected to generate over 20,000 jobs and have an economic impact of over 6 trillion won.

A Hanam City official stated, "The cluster that opened today marks a historic first step for Hanam City to become the leading advanced industrial city at the forefront of Korea's AI industry," adding, "The city will continue to create the best possible business environment by linking this with our key development projects, such as the K-Culture Complex and Camp Colburn development."

Hanam City held the opening ceremony of the "Hanam AI Innovation Cluster" on the 21st at the Hanam Startup Campus located on the 3rd floor of the Korea Development Bank Digital Square (KDB Industrial Bank IT Center). Provided by Hanam City

Meanwhile, the city is solidifying its position as an 'AI administrative city' through data-driven administrative innovation. Last November, the city demonstrated its administrative innovation capabilities by winning the Presidential Award at the performance sharing conference hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for its 'AI-based illegal motorcycle traffic monitoring service.' With the introduction of this system, illegal motorcycle traffic in Misa Forest Park decreased by 82%, resulting in tangible improvements in pedestrian safety. In addition, Hanam was the first in the country to introduce the 'AI Smart Accident Risk Prevention System,' establishing a smart road safety system that detects pedestrians in blind spots in real time.

In the welfare sector, AI·IoT-based health monitoring projects have been recognized as a national model for elderly care. Last year, the city also invited Lee Yongdeok, former country manager of NVIDIA Korea and current CEO of BaroAI, to deliver an AI lecture, further strengthening the capabilities of the local community.

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