"Pohang as the Center of AI Innovation!... Pohang Is the Best Location to Attract the National AI Computing Center"

Song Kyungchang, President of the Gyeongbuk Economic Promotion Agency, Invited to Breakfast Forum for Senior Public Officials
"Now, Get on the AI Expressway"
Sharing the Future Vision of AI

On the morning of the 18th, Pohang City held a breakfast forum in the city hall’s main conference room, inviting Song Kyungchang, President of the Gyeongbuk Economic Promotion Agency, to deliver a lecture titled "Now, Get on the AI Expressway" to over 100 senior public officials.

Pohang City held an executive officials' breakfast forum on the morning of the 18th in the large conference room of City Hall. Photo by Pohang City

This forum was organized to share Pohang City's future vision, as artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a key factor in determining national competitiveness in areas such as the economy and security. The city is pursuing the attraction of a National AI Computing Center as a core task in response to national AI industry development policies.

Song Kyungchang, who led the lecture, has served as Director General for Job Economy and Industry at Gyeongbuk Province and as Deputy Mayor of Pohang City after passing the national civil service exam. Over his 30-year public service career, he has actively contributed to fostering the AI industry in Gyeongbuk, including the early completion of the Fourth Industrial Knowledge Industry District, introduction of smart factory policies, establishment of the Gyeongbuk AI Hub Center, and AI Show Host Live Commerce.

During the forum, participants shared policy trends among major global countries aiming to secure leadership in the AI industry, and introduced concrete examples of AI technologies such as ChatGPT and AI influencers expanding beyond industry into sustainable daily life.

Furthermore, it was suggested that for Pohang to become a leading global AI city, a differentiated AI ecosystem must be established. Eight key projects were proposed, including attracting the National AI Computing Center, creating an AI startup ecosystem, hosting the AX Expo, and building an international submarine cable expressway.

In particular, it was emphasized that Pohang is the optimal location for the National AI Computing Center, as it possesses abundant advanced research infrastructure, outstanding AI talent, and a stable power supply. The city must succeed in attracting the center to secure AI computing competitiveness and sovereign AI leadership.

'Sovereign AI' refers to a strategy in which a nation or company builds independent AI capabilities by utilizing its own infrastructure and data.

Song Kyungchang stated, "To take the lead in the new AI economy era, it is most important to concentrate and build advanced AI infrastructure. AI will go beyond simple technological advancement to enhance national competitiveness and become the next-generation growth engine that will drive Pohang’s new future."

Mayor Lee Kangdeok emphasized, "We will mobilize all our capabilities to secure AI leadership in the global all-out competition by fostering a super-gap AI industry. We will do our utmost to ensure the National AI Computing Center is established in Pohang, which has the optimal conditions, and to help Korea emerge as a powerhouse in the AI industry."

Pohang City is accelerating its efforts to attract the National AI Computing Center by promoting the "Pohang-style AI Innovation Strategy," which focuses on building global AI infrastructure, creating AI loans and funds, converting all industries to AI (AX), and supporting corporate globalization.

The city plans to ensure the National AI Computing Center is established in Pohang and to cooperate with domestic and international cloud, data companies, telecommunications firms, and investment institutions to help Korea become a global powerhouse in the AI industry.

The government, taking into account power shortages in the Seoul metropolitan area and balanced regional development, plans to invest approximately 2 trillion won to build the National AI Computing Center outside the capital region through a public-private partnership.

The selection process, including a call for business operators, will begin in May, and the final site is expected to be decided in the second half of this year.