South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 29th the official launch of the 'AI Data Center Alliance,' a government-private consultative body for the national strategic industrialization of artificial intelligence data centers (AIDC). The alliance involves the Ministry of Science and ICT, Financial Services Commission, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and over 400 participants from industry, academia, and research institutes. The launch ceremony establishes a communication channel for related public-private cooperation and aims to advance large-scale AIDC megaproject initiatives. The alliance formation follows the government's June 29 announcement of the 'AI Data Center National Strategic Industrialization' strategy, which seeks to systematically develop AIDC as a core national industry through coordinated efforts across government agencies and private sector stakeholders.
Alliance Operates Under Government-Private Co-Chair System
The AIDC Alliance operates under a government-private co-chair system. Jung Jae-hun, President and CEO of SK Telecom and Chairman of the Korea Information & Communication Industry Association, serves as the inaugural private co-chair. The organizational structure includes a steering committee, three divisions (Demand, Supply, Foundation), and an Export Industrialization Task Force (TF).
The steering committee comprises 12 companies: Naver Cloud, Samsung SDS, SK Telecom, NHN Cloud, LS Electric, LG Uplus, LG Electronics, GS, Kakao, KT, KTNF, and FuriosaAI.
Three Divisions and Export TF Define Operational Framework
The Demand Division, led by Naver Cloud, consists of AIDC construction and operation companies focused on enhancing the competitiveness of domestic solutions. The Supply Division, headed by LG Electronics, centers on IT, power, and cooling solution technology developers and establishes core technology localization strategies.
The Foundation Division, with Kakao as division head, comprises AIDC-related associations, universities, and law firms. The Export Industrialization TF provides customized strategies for domestic companies' global market entry. The TF supports entry into both the global big tech-centered AI training market and the open ecosystem-centered AI inference market, and plans to establish strategies for exporting the entire process from construction to operation in package form.
Alliance Targets 18.4GW AIDC Construction and Export Industrialization
The alliance was established to systematically implement the 'AI Data Center National Strategic Industrialization' strategy announced by the government on June 29. The initiative plans to pursue large-scale AIDC construction at 18.4GW scale, export industrialization of upstream and downstream industries, AIDC cluster development, and large-scale testbed construction.
Jung Jae-hun, co-chair, stated, "The AIDC Alliance is the beginning of solidarity leading the global market in the AI era," emphasizing, "It will serve as a cornerstone for South Korea to emerge as an irreplaceable AI data center industrial powerhouse."
FAQ
What is the AI Data Center Alliance launched by South Korea?
The AI Data Center Alliance is a government-private consultative body officially launched on the 29th by South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy alongside the Ministry of Science and ICT, Financial Services Commission, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The alliance includes over 400 participants from industry, academia, and research institutes and operates under a co-chair system with Jung Jae-hun of SK Telecom as the inaugural private co-chair.
What are the main objectives of the AIDC Alliance?
The alliance aims to systematically implement the government's June 29 'AI Data Center National Strategic Industrialization' strategy. Planned initiatives include large-scale AIDC construction at 18.4GW scale, export industrialization of related upstream and downstream industries, AIDC cluster development, and large-scale testbed construction. The alliance operates through three divisions (Demand, Supply, Foundation) and an Export Industrialization Task Force to coordinate these objectives.
