Jeollanam-do Welcomes Joint Establishment of OpenAI-SK Data Center

Proactive Preparation Bears Fruit in Attracting a Global Data Center
Governor Kim Youngrok: "We Will Do Our Best to Become a Leading AI City"

Kim Youngrok, governor of Jeollanam-do, is announcing a welcoming statement for the historic OpenAI and SK joint global AI data center investment at the provincial government briefing room on the 2nd. Provided by Jeonnam Province

On October 2, Jeollanam-do expressed a strong welcome to the announcement that global AI leader OpenAI and SK would jointly establish a dedicated OpenAI data center in the province.

This landmark announcement is the result of a historic meeting on October 1 between President Lee Jaemyung and CEO Sam Altman, aimed at propelling South Korea into the ranks of the world’s top three AI powerhouses.

It is also seen as the outcome of Jeollanam-do’s proactive vision and consistent efforts, including the early transition to renewable energy and the establishment of a global data center cluster.

With OpenAI’s innovative technological capabilities and SK’s comprehensive expertise spanning from semiconductors to data centers, the data center to be built in Jeollanam-do is expected to become a world-class model for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Jeollanam-do plans to use this opportunity as a springboard to actively promote strategies such as fostering an AI-related industrial ecosystem, attracting global companies, and nurturing AI talent.

To this end, the province will improve living conditions-such as transportation, housing, and healthcare-and create a globally friendly environment by building an international school, thereby establishing a foundation for foreign experts and global talent to work stably.

In addition, Jeollanam-do plans to integrate related industries such as renewable energy, secondary batteries, the space industry, smart agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology around the AI data center.

Governor Kim Youngrok emphasized, “This decision is the most remarkable achievement in the thousand-year history of Jeolla Province,” adding, “We will do our utmost to build an energy self-sufficient futuristic city alongside the future renewable energy valley, so that Jeollanam-do can not only revive Jeolla Province but also become a world-leading AI city.”