South Korean President Lee Jae-myung announced comprehensive support for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, aiming to establish it as a key driver of the nation's economic growth. This announcement was made at the launch of an AI data center project in Ulsan, a collaboration between SK Group and Amazon Web Services. Once completed, this facility will be the largest AI center in South Korea, essential for Lee's vision of creating an "AI highway" to position South Korea among the top three AI powerhouses globally.
President Lee committed to offering significant tax incentives and regulatory reforms to encourage private investment, ensure data availability, and train skilled professionals. He emphasized the development of a sovereign AI model for public use and industry-specific models to drive innovation and cross-sector AI transformation.
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won highlighted that the initial 100 MW capacity of the Ulsan AI data center would eventually expand to 1 GW, aiming to become a global AI hub meeting domestic and international demands. Chey also urged the government to adopt broader AI technologies to stimulate public demand in this field.
