(LEAD) SK Group to invest 2,100 tln won to secure AI infrastructure nationwide

SK Group said it plans to invest 1,100 trillion won to establish what it calls an “AI memory production belt,” connecting the semiconductor cluster in Yongin, south of Seoul, with the central city of Cheongju and the southwestern region.

SK Group said it plans to establish a new SK hynix Inc. production base in the southwestern region, citing the government’s efforts to expand infrastructure, including electricity and water supplies.

“The move will not only upgrade existing production bases but also gradually establish next-generation production hubs, helping address soaring global demand for AI memory chips and build a stable supply chain,” it added.

SK hynix also aims to complete construction of the Yongin cluster by 2033, ahead of the original target of 2045, to better meet growing global demand for AI chips.

SK Telecom Co., the mobile carrier unit of the conglomerate, will also undertake a 1,000 trillion-won project to build AI data centers with a combined power capacity of 15 gigawatts.

“Given South Korea’s stable power supply and its production capacity for AI chips, the country is considered an attractive location for AI data centers,” the business group said.

Earlier in the day, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said the conglomerate will continue its efforts to transform South Korea from an “AI consumer” into an “intelligence exporter.”

“We should not simply export AI products. We need to export intelligence itself while building a domestic market for AI-driven intelligence,” Chey said. “To achieve that, we will rapidly build AI factories in the form of large-scale AI data centers.”