SKT Sets Up AI Data Center Subsidiary 'SK Hyper'... Invests 750 Billion Won

15 GW-Scale AI DC Vision: Control Tower for Securing AI Infrastructure and Business Development
Phase 1 Goal: Building 5 GW-Scale AI Data Centers

SK Telecom will establish a new subsidiary dedicated to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) data center business and invest 750 billion won in the venture.

On July 23, SK Telecom announced that its board of directors had approved the establishment of a new corporation, SK Hyper Co., Ltd., which will be solely responsible for developing the AI data center (AI DC) business. The company also resolved to invest a total of 750 billion won in the new entity by 2030 to lay the foundation for this business.

SK Hyper is a specialized company dedicated to the development of AI data center business. Over the mid- to long-term, it will serve as the control tower for building AI data centers with a total capacity of 15 gigawatts (GW). The company name “Hyper” embodies the idea of breaking all limits and opening up infinite possibilities, while also signifying the rapid expansion of the AI DC business to hyperscale.

SK Telecom has set its first-phase goal to build a total of 5 GW of AI data center capacity in stages, centered around SK Hyper. Subsequently, the plan is to scale up to 15 GW by 2035 in response to market demand.

SK Hyper will initially be responsible for acquiring business land, constructing and operating substations, establishing transmission and distribution infrastructure, attracting customers, and business development. The company plans to preemptively secure the shared infrastructure needed to build AI data centers.

SK Telecom will maintain 100% ownership of SK Hyper as a wholly owned subsidiary. Funding will be injected into SK Hyper in phases as needed, through split contributions, up to the total investment limit, through 2030.

The CEO of SK Hyper will be Seok-geun Jeong, head of the AI CIC at SK Telecom. Jeong has previously served as head of Naver Clova CIC and was also responsible for SK Telecom's global and AI tech business divisions. He has overseen the company’s AI model development, AI data center construction, and enterprise-wide AI transformation (AX) strategy. Jeong will concurrently serve as the head of the SK Telecom AI DC Integration Promotion Task Force, linking SK Group’s AI DC implementation teams and accelerating business execution.

Seok-geun Jeong, CEO of SK Hyper, stated, "SK Hyper will play a concrete role in realizing SK Group’s blueprint to become the Asian AI infrastructure hub," adding, "Through systematic and rapid execution, we will secure key infrastructure and customers and contribute to Korea's leap toward becoming one of the AI G3."

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