SK Telecom announced plans on July 5 to construct 15 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in South Korea. The project aims to establish the nation as a primary AI infrastructure hub for Asia. This expansion addresses surging global demand for AI model training and inference capabilities.
The multi-stage rollout begins with a site currently under construction in Ulsan. An initial phase will bring 5GW online starting in 2029. Planned facilities will span the southeastern Gyeongsang and southwestern Jeolla regions.
The total planned capacity exceeds South Korea's entire existing data center infrastructure. This move supports government efforts to decentralize technology assets beyond the capital of Seoul. Funding will involve SK Telecom investments, strategic partner capital, long-term customer contracts, and project financing.