Government Accelerates AI Computing Expansion:

AI Computing Infrastructure Special Committee Convenes to Drive GPU Expansion: 10,000 GPUs by Year-End, 18,000 by Mid-Next Year

The government convened the 3rd AI Computing Infrastructure Special Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Special Committee") at 2:00 PM on Monday, February 17, at the Seoul Government Complex.

Operating under the National AI Committee, the Special Committee was formed to foster public-private discussions on AI computing infrastructure, including the National AI Computing Center, and to develop response strategies and support measures. The 3rd meeting served as a follow-up to the "Action Plan for the Establishment of the National AI Computing Center (including the Establishment of an SPC)," announced at the Ministerial Meeting on National Affairs and Economic Affairs on January 22. Discussions centered on reviewing key issues related to the plan’s implementation.

The U.S. Stargate Project and France’s AI Data Center Initiative demonstrate that AI computing infrastructure is now a critical benchmark of national AI ecosystem competitiveness. However, building high-performance AI computing infrastructure requires significant investment and depends on advanced semiconductors, making it challenging to determine the optimal investment scale in advance. Additionally, rapid technological advancements and shifting market conditions add further uncertainty.

To address these challenges, the government will leverage the Special Committee as a platform for continuous progress monitoring and agile responses to emerging issues.

Attendees included Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Economy and Finance; Kim Byung-hwan, Chairman of the Financial Services Commission; Kang Do-hyun, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT; as well as other senior government officials and private-sector committee members. In addition, Kim Sung-hoon, CEO of the Korean AI startup Upstage, and Bae Kyung-hoon, Director of LG AI Research, joined the meeting to provide policy recommendations on AI computing infrastructure.

During the meeting, Kim Sung-hoon, CEO of Upstage, delivered a presentation titled "Pathway to Becoming a Global AGI Powerhouse." He underscored the critical role of talent and GPU resources in AI advancement, highlighting Korea’s existing strengths in these areas. Additionally, he proposed key support measures essential for positioning Korea as a global leader in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)

Next, Bae Kyung-hoon, Director of LG AI Research, presented on "Latest AI Technology Trends and the Future of AI Development in Korea." He introduced an optimized inference model capable of delivering performance on par with existing models at a lower cost. He also showcased the achievements of LG’s AI model, EXAONE, which was developed using this advanced technology.

The Special Committee also reviewed key issues related to the National AI Computing Center, including:

 Project progress, including the call for proposals and the information session

 Major challenges and response strategies concerning GPU procurement, service deployment, land use, power supply, and policy financing programs

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok stated:

"Global competition in AI is no longer limited to corporations—it has become a race among nations to build the most advanced innovation ecosystems. If the government and private sector work together, AI computing infrastructure will serve as the foundation for Korea’s rise into the world’s top three AI nations—just as broadband networks once propelled the country into an ICT powerhouse."

He further emphasized:

"Through public-private cooperation, we will secure 10,000 high-performance GPUs by the end of this year to accelerate the launch of the National AI Computing Center. By the first half of next year, we will establish the Sixth Supercomputer, equipped with 8,000 GPUs, to further support researchers, industry, and academia."

Based on the policy recommendations presented during this Special Committee meeting, the government will further refine and enhance AI computing infrastructure policies. Moving forward, it will maintain close collaboration with industry and academia to swiftly address on-the-ground challenges and reflect them in policy measures. Furthermore, the government will strengthen the "One-Team Public-Private Partnership" to ensure the successful establishment of the National AI Computing Center.

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT. 

Please refer to the attached PDF.