AIDC Alliance Launched: "AIDC Construction Is an Opportunity for Exports and Industrialization"

Deputy Prime Minister Haeun Bae: "The Government Will Provide Unwavering Support"

Private Chairman Jaeheon Chung: "AIDC Is the Foundation of Korea"

Jaehun Jung, Co-Chairman of the AIDC Alliance and CEO of SK Telecom, is delivering the opening remarks at the AIDC Alliance launch ceremony held at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on July 29, 2026. Photo by Dongju Yoon

The "AIDC Alliance," a public-private partnership aimed at the systematic development of Artificial Intelligence Data Centers (AIDC)—considered a future growth engine for Korea—has been officially launched.

On July 29, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the inauguration ceremony for the "AIDC Alliance" at Lotte Hotel Seoul, joined by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Financial Services Commission, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and over 400 representatives from academia, industry, and research institutions.

The AIDC Alliance was established to systematically implement the "AIDC National Strategic Industrialization" initiative, announced by the government on June 29 as part of three major megaprojects. The initiative includes the construction of 18.4 gigawatts (GW) of large-scale AIDC capacity, promoting the export-driven industrialization of AIDC-related businesses, the formation of AIDC clusters, and the development of large-scale testbeds.

The Alliance is led jointly by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the private sector. The inaugural private chairman is Jaeheon Chung, President of the Korea Information and Communication Promotion Association and CEO of SK Telecom. Under the co-chairs are a council of 12 leaders, three working groups for demand, supply, and infrastructure, as well as an export industrialization task force (TF). The Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) serves as secretariat, supporting the operation.

Chairman Jaeheon Chung: "AIDC is a Factory That Produces and Exports Intelligence"

Jaeheon Chung, who serves as co-chair, emphasized, "Whereas traditional data centers served as warehouses for information, going forward, they will become export factories that produce and supply intelligence to the global market. The AIDC embodies a culmination of cutting-edge technology, including servers, storage, cloud, software, power, and cooling."

Chung further stated, "Building hyperscale AIDC facilities offers an opportunity for AI export and industrialization. As the age of AI intensifies competition among countries, today's launch of the AIDC Alliance marks the beginning of a coalition for greater ambition and progress. Its achievements will form the irreplaceable foundation of Korea's future."

The council members include Naver Cloud, Samsung SDS, SK Telecom, NHN Cloud, LS ELECTRIC, LG Uplus, LG Electronics, GS, Kakao, KT, KTNF, and FuriosaAI. The demand working group, focused on AIDC developers and operators, is led by Naver Cloud while the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) supports its operation. This group will leverage AIDC construction and operation experience to enhance the competitiveness of domestic AIDC solutions and cloud technology, develop demonstration opportunities and references based on large-scale testbeds, and drive mutually beneficial collaboration between demand and supply firms.

The supply working group, consisting mainly of IT and power/cooling solution developers, is led by LG Electronics with operational support from IITP. This group will spearhead the advancement and localization of core technologies within AIDC, as well as lead efforts toward interoperability and standardization of AIDC technologies and solutions.

The infrastructure working group, which brings together related associations, universities, and law firms, is led by Kakao with operational support from the Korea Information and Communications Promotion Association. The group will focus on strategies for improving laws and systems essential to AIDC ecosystem growth and develop measures for fostering on-site, custom-trained AIDC talent.

Paik Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, is delivering a welcome speech at the 'AI Data Center Alliance Launch Ceremony' held on the afternoon of the 29th at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Courtesy of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Deputy Prime Minister Haeun Bae: "AIDC Construction Is Key in the AI Revolution"

In addition to the three working groups, an export industrialization TF will also be operated. This TF, comprised of major enterprises with export capabilities in the AIDC sector, will develop tailored strategies for Korean companies to penetrate both the global big tech-centered AI training market and the open ecosystem-driven AI inference market. It also aims to formulate strategies for exporting end-to-end AI data center solutions, from construction to operation, targeting demand countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Chongil Park, Policy Chief at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, commented, "We will construct a supply chain ecosystem for essential components, materials, and equipment that supports Korea's emergence as a core nation in the AI data center supply chain through technological innovation, demonstrations, and new market entry."

Daeyoung Kwon, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, said, "As the construction of GW-scale AI data centers involves unprecedented levels of investment, we will actively provide funding through the National Growth Fund." He emphasized the need for localization of core technologies, stating, "We plan to expand the 150 trillion won National Growth Fund to 200 trillion won next year, with 30 to 40 percent to be allocated to AI, semiconductors, and energy sectors. Funding will be distributed evenly not only to large corporations, but also to midsize firms, small businesses, and ventures throughout the entire ecosystem, including local regions."

Haeun Bae, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, remarked, "The government will provide seamless support to ensure that our companies can accelerate their efforts in AIDC-related business." He stressed, "The most critical starting point in the AI revolution is constructing the AIDC infrastructure."

Deputy Prime Minister Bae added, "An AIDC is essentially a token factory. If we establish ourselves as an exporter of intelligence tokens, Korea can take the lead. Entering this era of dramatic AI transformation, if we miss the golden window of 3 to 5 years, we risk losing our status as a former IT powerhouse. I urge everyone to work together so we can create a new world led by AI."

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