Controversy over rumors of lodging a ‘national AI computing center’ in a selected region

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Jeollanam-do, Daegu Metropolitan City, and Gangwon-do are engaged in a fierce bidding war for the ‘National AI Computing Center’, which the federal government plans to construct by investing 2 trillion won.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (hereinafter known as the Ministry of Science and ICT) maintains the position that no decision has been made on the situation or the project entity, but some regions have already declared themselves as strong candidate sites and are emphasizing the opportunity of success in attracting the project, sparking controversy.

Image of the federal government’s regional AI innovation base (Ministry of Science and ICT)

Major candidate regions competing to draw AI computing centers

Currently, Daegu’s Suseong Alpha City, Jeollanam-do’s Solaseado, and Gangwon-do’s Donghae City are competing to host a national AI computing center. Each region participated on this bidding war, highlighting its individual strengths.

▲Daegu Suseong Alpha City. Daegu Suseong Alpha City, a digital innovation hub, has recently emerged as a digital innovation hub. Alpha City, which was already designated as a free economic zone in 2008, is the biggest information and communication technology (ICT) cluster outside the metropolitan area where IT and software (SW) firms are concentrated.

SK REITs Management and SK Corporation C&C Consortium have announced an investment plan of greater than 1 trillion won to construct an AI data center, and it has been designated as a special opportunity development zone to receive advantages equivalent to special regulations and tax breaks.

▸Benefits. The IT infrastructure is well established, and investment by large private firms is lively. It shows that Daegu has the potential to grow into a sophisticated research and development base for AI and massive data.

▸Disadvantages. Some argue that Daegu already has a big amount of infrastructure, so the necessity for brand new investment could also be relatively low.

Gwangju Metropolitan City High-tech Complex 3 National AI Data Center Computer Room (Photo = NHN Cloud)
Gwangju Metropolitan City High-tech Complex 3 National AI Data Center Computer Room (Photo = NHN Cloud)

▲Sola Sea Island, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do. Solaseado, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, based on renewable energy, is a city with a renewable energy power generation base, and its major strength within the competition to draw the town is that it could actually supply eco-friendly energy.

This area is very regarded from an environmental perspective because it serves as a foundation for resolving power issues needed to operate large-scale data centers in the long run.

▸Benefits. Possibility of operating an information center using eco-friendly energy. Within the Jeonnam region, there may be a powerful have to attract investment in non-metropolitan areas by way of balanced national development.

▸Disadvantages. The shortage of existing AI infrastructure and the relative weakness of the related industrial base in comparison with other regions are identified as weaknesses.

▲Donghae-si, Gangwon-do. Power Supply and Geographical Benefits Donghae City, Gangwon Province, took advantage of its abundant power supply capabilities and geographical benefits to draw the town. Specifically, Donghae City has a powerful will to strengthen connectivity with existing industrial complexes, and is actively promoting this bid as a part of its East Coast development plan.

▸Benefits. Donghae has strengths in power supply issues and has the potential for expansion linked to industrial complexes. Gangwon-do has a comparatively strong existing industrial base.

▸Disadvantages. By way of AI-related technology and infrastructure, the dearth of it in comparison with other regions could also be an issue.

As some media reports emerged that certain regions were advantageous for hosting a national AI computing center, the Ministry of Science and ICT officially announced
When some media reports emerged that certain regions were advantageous in attracting the national AI computing center, the Ministry of Science and ICT officially stated, “The promoter and site selection haven’t yet been decided.”

Gwangju, fear of conflict with existing clusters, ‘backlash’

Meanwhile, Gwangju Metropolitan City is opposing this plan to construct a brand new AI computing center since it conflicts with the prevailing ‘K Cloud Plan’.

Gwangju expressed its position that “it’s already constructing an AI data center and AI industry convergence complex,” and that “installing latest computing centers in several regions is an inefficient distribution of national resources.”

Rep. Jo In-cheol, a member of the National Assembly’s Strategy and Defense Committee, also supported Gwangju’s opposition, arguing that “selection and concentration are mandatory.”

Some suggested that having data centers spread across multiple regions could also be higher suited to meeting national computing resource needs.

A public offering for business operators is scheduled to be held next yr, and the ultimate selection is predicted to be made in the shape of a three way partnership between a personal company and the federal government.

Because the battle to draw AI computing centers involves a fancy combination of things equivalent to infrastructure, power supply, and industrial growth potential in each region, a strategic approach is required that concurrently considers balanced regional development and national AI technology development.

Meanwhile, as some local media reported that it seemed as if the attraction to a selected region could be confirmed, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced in an official press release on the seventh, “The promoter and site of the national AI computing center haven’t yet been decided.”

Reporter Yang Jun-seok kailas21@aitimes.com

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