SKT 'Full Stack' and Naver 'Sovereign': Responding to Global AI Demand with NVIDIA (Comprehensive Report 2)

SK Telecom, DSX-Based Full-Stack AI Cloud Partnership
First AI Factory Launch in Korea Next Year, Expansion Across Asia
Naver to Build 55MW AI Factory in First Half of Next Year
First Korean Company to Join "Nemotron Alliance," Strengthening Collaboration

SK Telecom and Naver are teaming up with NVIDIA to build a gigawatt (GW)-level artificial intelligence (AI) factory. An AI factory is a core AI infrastructure that handles model training and inference tasks. Continuously producing 'tokens'—the output of AI's cognitive processes—it will be built on NVIDIA's integrated DSX platform.

SK Telecom is focusing on building the AI ecosystem at the group level, spanning from SK hynix’s semiconductors (hardware) to infrastructure, software, and end-user services. Naver is emphasizing its competitive edge in AI factory infrastructure, leveraging its sovereign AI technology.

Taekwon Chey, Chairman of SK Group (left), and Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, are responding to questions from the press regarding AI infrastructure cooperation for the "AI Factory" at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 8, 2026. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

SK Telecom: From Hardware to Services, Aims to Be a Leading AI Cloud Provider

On June 8, SK Telecom announced that it would pursue “full-stack AI cloud” cooperation with NVIDIA, covering everything from chips to data center operations. Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, stated at a media briefing held at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, “We have been collaborating with NVIDIA in the SK hynix memory sector, and now we are elevating this partnership to the group level. By expanding AI infrastructure including AI-specialized data centers such as the AI Factory, we will be able to respond more quickly to AI demand.”

The two companies plan to launch their first AI factory in Korea next year, gradually expanding to GW-level infrastructure, and then extend AI infrastructure across Asia. Implementing the AI factory requires “AI full-stack” capabilities, not only in computing but also networking and software. Through this partnership, SK Telecom will secure access to NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure, including computing and dedicated software, while NVIDIA will leverage SK hynix’s memory technology and SK Telecom’s expertise in building and operating AI factories.

CEO Huang remarked, “It is certain that the future of AI is very bright. Just as the Internet became infrastructure for the world, AI will fulfill a similar role.” He added, “As AI becomes a driving force for national competitiveness and industry-specific AI becomes necessary, demand for infrastructure will increase. The AI factory built by SK Telecom and NVIDIA will be essential not only for Korean citizens, educational institutions, universities, and scientific research centers, but also for industries including startups.”

SK Telecom will also join the “NVIDIA Cloud Partner” program. The company aims to achieve the lowest token cost and the highest performance per watt, which are key factors for competitiveness in the AI infrastructure market. SK Telecom expects its cooperation with NVIDIA to become a core foundation for its AI cloud business.

Chairman Chey emphasized, “By jointly addressing challenges related to graphics processing units (GPUs), memory, and energy, we will become the leading AI cloud provider driving the development of the AI ecosystem across Asia. We will work with NVIDIA to contribute to the stabilization of the AI ecosystem.” However, regarding specific costs or timing of the partnership, he stated, “We will maintain a long-term partnership,” declining to provide further details.

Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, is taking a commemorative photo after a Samgyeopsal meeting with Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK; Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG; and Lee Hae-jin, Chairman of Naver, at a barbecue restaurant in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on June 5, 2026. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Naver Secures Leadership in AI Infrastructure Ecosystem Powered by NVIDIA

Naver will also build a GW-level AI factory with NVIDIA, aiming to expand beyond Asia into the European and Middle Eastern sovereign AI markets.

In a public disclosure on June 8, Naver stated, “To respond to the surging global demand for AI infrastructure, we have formed a strategic partnership with NVIDIA and will jointly build and operate large-scale global AI factories.”

The two companies will begin with a 55MW-scale AI factory in the first half of next year and then build up to GW-scale AI factories. Using its “Gak Sejong” data center as a forward base, Naver plans to expand overseas infrastructure to 200MW by 2028 to absorb global demand.

The companies will also strengthen technical cooperation. Naver’s capabilities in building and operating its own GPU clusters will be integrated with NVIDIA’s DSX platform, aiming to maximize data center operational efficiency and business viability. In addition, next-generation technology collaboration in spatial intelligence will accelerate, including the development of the “Seoul World Model,” which utilizes Naver’s proprietary spatial modeling and Street View data within NVIDIA’s world foundation model “Cosmos.”

Naver has become the first Korean company to join the “NVIDIA Nemotron Alliance.” Led by NVIDIA, the Nemotron Alliance is a consortium of 12 global AI companies, including Cursor, Mistral AI, and Perplexity. Naver will contribute to the development of open models through pre-training, post-training, and reinforcement learning.

Lee Hae-jin, Chairman of Naver’s Board, and CEO Huang are scheduled to meet at Naver’s 1784 headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of June 8 to discuss the detailed roadmap and specific cooperation plans for their joint ventures in global markets.

Chairman Lee stated, “Through this alliance, we can now present concrete alternatives for each region and country around the world to build their own sovereign AI capabilities. Naver’s technological infrastructure competitiveness has reached a new milestone, providing an opportunity to advance into the global market.”

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