Regional Leadership in the AI Race: Pohang and Gyeongbuk Propose Locally-Driven AI Strategy

Vision for a Locally-Driven AI Computing Hub in Pohang and Gyeongbuk Presented at National Assembly Policy Forum
Pohang Equipped with Energy, Research, and Data Infrastructure... Poised to Become a Core Base for the National AI Strategy

Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province held an AI policy forum on the 11th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building under the theme "The Future of National AI Infrastructure, Strategic Possibilities of Gyeongbuk and Pohang." At the event, they proposed a decentralized, locally-driven ecosystem model for AI infrastructure, moving beyond the central government-led strategy.

Regional Leadership in the AI Race: Pohang and Gyeongbuk Propose Locally-Driven AI Strategy

The forum was co-hosted by National Assembly members Kim Jungjae and Lee Sanghui, and co-organized by Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, and the Gyeongbuk Research Institute. Over 100 participants attended, including Lee Gangdeok, Mayor of Pohang; Kim Ilman, Chairman of the Pohang City Council; Yoo Cheolgyun, President of the Gyeongbuk Research Institute; Jeong Gyuyeol, Vice President of POSTECH; Cho Yunseok, Vice President of Handong University; Cha Inhyuk, Special Advisor for Future Strategy to Gyeongbuk Province; as well as representatives from KT, Naver Cloud, Douzone Bizon, and the Korea Institute of Energy Research.

Cha Inhyuk, Special Advisor for Future Strategy to the Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, delivered the keynote address. He stated, "A decentralized model that leverages local capabilities is more effective for AI infrastructure than a centralized approach." He further explained, "Gyeongbuk and Pohang offer the optimal location, with a nuclear power-based grid, research-focused universities, and a concentration of industrial sites."

Mayor Lee Gangdeok emphasized, "Pohang is transforming from a traditional steel city into a hub for new industries such as AI, batteries, bio, and hydrogen." Expressing a strong commitment to attracting an AI computing center, he added, "Pohang is the optimal site for AI computation, equipped with research infrastructure such as POSTECH, Handong University, and the synchrotron radiation accelerator, as well as a stable power grid and a deep-sea water cooling system. The low-cost energy supply based on nuclear power plants in Uljin and Gyeongju provides a favorable environment for building high-performance AI infrastructure."

Lee Gangdeok, Mayor of Pohang, presenting a local government-led AI strategy for Pohang and Gyeongbuk.

Yoo Cheolgyun, President of the Gyeongbuk Research Institute and moderator of the forum, stated, "Local governments must go beyond simply installing infrastructure and should be able to plan and drive an AI ecosystem with global competitiveness." He stressed the need for a clear division of roles and cooperation between central and local governments.

During the expert panel discussion, Bae Sunmin, Executive Director of KT AI Future Lab, highlighted the potential of decentralized local models to prevent data bias and promote balanced regional development. Lee Jaehyun, Director at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology, explained the strategic significance of building energy-based AI data centers.

Joo Youngsup, Distinguished Professor at Seoul National University and former Administrator of the Small and Medium Business Administration, suggested that AI should be viewed as a national strategic tool. Ji Yonggu, Vice President of Douzone Bizon, emphasized that Gyeongbuk and Pohang are optimal locations for implementing AI infrastructure in terms of energy and industrial infrastructure.

Ha Jeongwoo, Head of the Naver Cloud AI Center, introduced strategies for operating low-cost, high-efficiency AI infrastructure and shared global best practices for securing competitiveness.

Cho Yunseok, Vice President of Handong University, stated, "Pohang enables collaboration among local universities, companies, and research institutes, which is expected to facilitate the acquisition of high-quality industrial data and the spread of AI technology." He added, "Pohang has ample potential to emerge as a central hub in the national supercomputing ecosystem."

This forum was significant in that it provided an opportunity for local governments to secure sovereignty over AI, energy, and data, while seeking to redefine the roles of central and local governments.

Based on the various opinions shared at the forum, Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province plan to further develop their strategy for attracting an AI computing center and to accelerate consultations with the central government and the establishment of a wide-area cooperation system.

They also intend to focus on expanding the demonstration and research base through a collaborative ecosystem among POSTECH, Handong University, and local companies.