"Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud, Data Center (DC)"
Choi Ji-woong, CEO of KT Cloud, pointed out three areas as future growth engines at the "KT Cloud Summit 2025" held in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 30th. Choi noted, "We have focused on talent acquisition over the past year, and this is a vision created together with those who joined us."
Choi's presentation of the growth vision in front of more than 1,500 industry stakeholders, including clients and partners, is interpreted as a response to the recent surge of discussions about "role reduction theory." The parent company, KT, decided last year to collaborate with Microsoft (MS) in the AI, cloud, and IT sectors for a partnership worth 2.4 trillion won over the next five years.
In response, KT Cloud has recently sought to expand its independent business areas. The intention is to achieve growth through business results outside of the cloud service (CSP) sector, where market conflicts with the parent company are expected.
Choi stated, "Collaboration with MS is taking place at the 'One KT' level, and KT Cloud is responsible for supporting and overseeing the actual infrastructure transition. We will build an ecosystem in which not only MS but also companies like Rebellion and clients can directly expand the platform."
◇ "Continuing to expand the capacity of the largest data center in the country"
KT Cloud presented the event's theme as "Tech Innovation, With Customer" and shared various technical and service achievements while outlining the future roadmap.
Choi emphasized, "The year 2025 will mark the beginning for KT Cloud to establish itself as a practical partner in enhancing productivity in AI-based industries, going beyond being just a technology company," and added, "KT Cloud is transforming into a technology-focused corporation."
Choi emphasized that KT Cloud will "grow alongside clients" through the establishment of comprehensive technologies across the cloud platform and artificial intelligence data center (AI DC), the creation of the largest customized and open AI ecosystem in the country, and the development of integrated solutions that possess connectivity and scalability among AI, cloud, and data centers.
Choi particularly highlighted the capabilities in data center operations. KT Cloud entered the data center market in 1999 and currently operates 14 data centers, the largest number in the country. Additionally, there are plans to expand the data center infrastructure to over 320 megawatts (MW) by 2030. Last August, the Baeksok AI data center in Goyang-si opened, and a 26 MW data center in Gasan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul is expected to open in the third quarter of this year. Choi said, "We are striving to accelerate our clients' innovation based on technology."
During the event, among others, KT Cloud executives presented detailed business strategies. Gong Yong-jun, head of KT Cloud's Cloud Headquarters, introduced the "AI Foundry" strategy. The aim is to generate revenue by simultaneously providing various industry-specific solutions, ranging from hardware to graphics processing unit subscription services (GPUaaS), machine learning operations (MLOps), and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
Heo Young-man, head of KT Cloud's Data Center Headquarters, shared trends in the data center market centered on AI and KT Cloud's response strategies. He stated that through high-efficiency cooling technologies such as direct chip cooling (D2C), AI autonomous operation platforms, AI validation centers, subscription-based GPU infrastructure services, and AI infrastructure operation platforms, "we will position ourselves as the leading player in AI data centers."
◇ "Sovereign AI? It's not a matter of technological nationality"
Choi also revealed his stance on "Sovereign AI" during a meeting with reporters. Previously, Kim Yoo-won, CEO of Naver Cloud, criticized KT's announcement about developing "Sovereign AI" with MS at a tech meetup held on the 23rd, saying, "Bringing in foreign technology, attaching a label, and calling it sovereign is absurd," and added, "I believe that national destiny being determined by directives from the U.S. president does not align with the definition of sovereignty."
In response, Choi stated, "I believe that Sovereign AI is not a matter of technological nationality," adding, "AI operates based on data, so the key question is who holds the data sovereignty. The origin of the technology is not an issue."
Choi further noted, "What's important is how much practical benefit and effect corporations can gain from utilizing AI," and emphasized that a leading AI nation must activate economic activities using AI, which should enhance productivity and should not be limited to specific technologies."
Choi likened the Sovereign AI issue to graphics processing unit (GPU) infrastructure for explanation. He mentioned, "There is currently no way to quickly replace GPU equipment," adding, "The first step is to bring in GPU technology and work on boosting productivity, which is already being done in Korea," and continued, "We need to consider more effective approaches from the perspective of national interests."