"We will make Korea the largest artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Asia ."
Jung Jai-hun, the new president of SK Telecom, stated accordingly at the keynote speech of the SK AI Summit 2025 held at Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd, declaring the global expansion of the AI data center (AI DC) business. Jung said, "We will create second and third Ulsan AI data center models to attract global capital investment into Korea and elevate Korea into an Asian AI hub."
As detailed strategies for this, Jung presented: ▲ large-scale expansion of the Ulsan AI data center ▲ overseas expansion of energy-specialized AI data center solutions ▲ a leap to a full-service AI data center operator ▲ promotion of "edge AI" in partnership with global big tech ▲ establishment of a "manufacturing AI cloud." Jung said, "We will be reborn as a 'full-service AI data center operator' covering the entire process from design to construction to operations," adding, "We plan to internalize core AI infrastructure technologies and productize an 'AI data center solution package.'"
SK Telecom is reviewing a plan to expand the Ulsan AI data center, being built together with Amazon Web Services (AWS), to a capacity of more than 1 gigawatt (GW). Jung said, "Major global corporations are starting to pay attention to SK Telecom's AI data center development capabilities," adding, "We will lay the groundwork for the Republic of Korea to rise as an Asian AI infrastructure hub." He also noted plans to enter Southeast Asia, saying, "Beyond the Vietnam project underway with SK Innovation, we will expand AI infrastructure projects to Malaysia and Singapore."
SK Telecom is also accelerating innovation in manufacturing using AI. It plans to kick off full-scale buildout of a "manufacturing AI cloud" by introducing about 2,000 units of the RTX Pro 6000 graphics processing unit (GPU) from Nvidia. Jung said, "In partnership with Nvidia, we plan to build Asia's first manufacturing AI cloud," adding, "Based on this, it will become the core infrastructure to drive innovations such as Digital Twin in manufacturing sites and robot AI."
Jung also announced plans to strengthen cooperation with Amazon Web Services (AWS) on edge AI technology and with Nvidia on building intelligent base stations (AI-RAN). Edge AI is a technology that enhances ultra-low latency and security by processing data at on-site base stations or edge servers without sending it to the cloud, and it is considered essential infrastructure for the spread of AI services. Jung emphasized, "As AI services grow explosively, the role of telecom networks is coming back into focus," adding, "Edge AI, which bridges AI data centers and On-device AI, and intelligent base stations are domains that only telecom operators can implement." He added, "We will link AI technology to productivity innovation across industries and rise from a telecom-centered corporations to an AI infrastructure leader."
The announcement marked Jung's first stage since taking office and signaled that SK Telecom's "AI company" vision is fully underway. Jung said, "AI is no longer a choice but a necessity," adding, "We will support innovation across industries so that Korea can secure the initiative in the global AI race. We will grow (SK Telecom) into a national AI champion."