Key Highlights
- The Korean government, through the Ministry of Science and ICT, is investing in sovereign AI infrastructure with over 50,000 NVIDIA GPUs.
- Samsung Electronics is building an AI factory with over 50,000 GPUs to accelerate its AI, semiconductor, and digital transformation roadmap.
- SK Group is developing an AI factory featuring over 50,000 NVIDIA GPUs for physical AI and robotics worklo.
- NVIDIA is collaborating with Hyundai Motor Group in building an NVIDIA AI factory with 50,000 Blackwell GPUs to enable integrated AI model training, validation, and deployment for manufacturing and autonomous driving.
Government-Driven AI Infrastructure Expansion in South Korea
The Korean government, through the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), is making significant strides in building a robust AI infrastructure. This initiative involves deploying over 50,000 NVIDIA GPUs across the National AI Computing Center and several cloud service providers including NHN Cloud, Kakao Corp., and NAVER Cloud. These deployments are part of a broader strategy to enhance Korea’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
“Korea’s leadership in technology and manufacturing positions it at the heart of the AI industrial revolution — where accelerated computing infrastructure becomes as vital as power grids and broadband,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. This statement underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies for economic growth and innovation.
Industry Giants Pledge Support
Samsung Electronics is a key player in this initiative, with plans to build an AI factory equipped with over 50,000 GPUs. The company aims to accelerate its AI, semiconductor, and digital transformation roadmap through these advanced computing resources. By integrating NVIDIA technologies into their operations, Samsung seeks to improve the speed and yields of sophisticated semiconductor manufacturing processes.
SK Group is also on board, designing an AI factory that can host over 50,000 NVIDIA GPUs for semiconductor research, development, and production.
Additionally, SK Telecom plans to provide sovereign infrastructure featuring NVIDIA RTX PRO™ 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs, enabling domestic manufacturers to tap into NVIDIA Omniverse. The company will offer industrial cloud infrastructure to support digital twin and robotics projects.
Collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Motor Group is collaborating closely with NVIDIA in building an AI factory that includes 50,000 Blackwell GPUs for training and deploying AI models. This partnership aims to enhance the group’s capabilities in integrated AI model development for manufacturing and autonomous driving applications. The collaboration will also result in a significant investment of approximately $3 billion to advance physical AI in Korea.
“We are entering a new phase of deepened collaboration with NVIDIA,” said an official from Hyundai Motor Group, highlighting the strategic importance of this partnership. “This is expected to significantly boost our manufacturing and autonomous driving technologies.”
NAVER Cloud’s Expansion
NAVER Cloud is also expanding its AI infrastructure by deploying over 60,000 GPUs for enterprise and physical AI worklo. The company plans to develop industry-specific AI models, focusing on inclusivity for Korea’s citizens. This expansion will further solidify NAVER Cloud as a key player in Korea’s AI ecosystem.
“With the support of NVIDIA, we aim to create advanced AI agents that can address specific needs across various industries,” said a spokesperson from NAVER Cloud. “Our focus on inclusive AI ensures that technological advancements benefit all segments of society.”
Beyond Infrastructure: Research and Development
In addition to building robust computing infrastructure, Korea is also investing in research and development through public-private partnerships. These initiatives include the development of Korean foundation language models (LLMs) using NVIDIA NeMo™ and open Nemotron datasets. The project involves key players such as LG AI Research, NAVER Cloud, NC AI, SK Telecom, and Upstage.
“Expanding our national AI infrastructure and developing technologies with NVIDIA is an investment that will further reinforce South Korea’s strengths,” said Bae Kyung-hoon, Korea Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Information and Communication Technologies. “This initiative positions us to become one of the top three global AI powerhouses.”
The partnership between Korea and NVIDIA extends beyond computing infrastructure into quantum computing and scientific research. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) is working with NVIDIA to establish a Center of Excellence for quantum computing, leveraging the nation’s sixth-generation national supercomputer, HANGANG.
“Working with NVIDIA will enable us to deepen research in areas like quantum error correction and hybrid application development,” said KISTI officials. “This collaboration will accelerate the development of tomorrow’s quantum-GPU supercomputers.”
Startups and Innovation Ecosystems
To further support startups and innovation, NVIDIA is establishing an alliance with its partners through the NVIDIA Inception program. This initiative aims to foster startup growth by providing access to accelerated computing infrastructure from SK Telecom and support from VC Alliance members including IMM Investment, Korea Investment Partners, and SBVA.
“This program will play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of companies,” said an official from NVIDIA. “By leveraging our expertise and resources, we can help startups achieve rapid growth and innovation.”
The collaboration between government, industry leaders, and technology companies showcases Korea’s commitment to becoming a global leader in AI innovation and economic development. As these initiatives continue to unfold, they are expected to drive significant advancements across various sectors, from manufacturing and autonomous driving to quantum computing and scientific research.
