JDC Chairman Song Seok-eon: "We are pushing ahead with a Jeju AI data center and consulting with SK and KT"

[Jeju = Reporter Jang In-seo] The Jeju International Free City Development Center (JDC) said it has unveiled a plan to build a 30 MW public artificial intelligence (AI) data center in the second phase of the Jeju Advanced Science and Technology Complex together with Jeju Island. It is also seeking to create a dedicated zone for AI companies and data centers, while exploring partnerships with Kakao Corp. and Naver and attracting private companies such as SK Group and KT Corporation. JDC also said normalizing the long-stalled Yerae Recreational Housing Complex and Jeju Healthcare Town will be its top priority during Song's term.■ A 30 MW AI center in the second phase of the advanced complexAt a briefing for reporters covering the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held at JDC headquarters on the 28th, Chairman Song said, "We are preparing to jointly pursue this with Jeju Island because we believe Jeju also needs an AI data center," adding, "We are reviewing a 30 MW capacity for the center."
Song added, "We are seeking cooperation with Kakao Corp. and Naver," and said, "We are also talking with SK Group and KT Corporation, and SK in particular has approached us first."
The planned site is the second phase of the Jeju Advanced Science and Technology Complex, where land development work is under way. The national industrial complex in Wolpyeong-dong, Jeju-si, covers 848,163 square meters. The project will cost 392.1 billion won, and completion is targeted for the second half of 2028.
At the briefing, Park Jae-mo, head of JDC's industrial promotion division, explained, "We have designated a separate zone in the second phase to attract AI companies and AI data centers," and added, "We have also confirmed the feasibility of power and water supply through consultations with relevant agencies."
The adjacent first phase already hosts 193 companies, including Kakao Corp. and ESTsoft Corp. As of the end of last year, those tenants generated about 8.7 trillion won in sales and employed 3,701 people. JDC plans to expand the IT ecosystem built in the first phase into the AI industry in the second phase.
JDC began its own review last year and started joint planning earlier this year at Jeju Island's suggestion. With 475 million won in support from the Ministry of Science and ICT, Jeju Island, JDC, and Jeju Technopark are carrying out the planning study. Once the report is released in November, the agency plans to request budget support from the government. If the preliminary feasibility study is waived, follow-up procedures such as project planning and basic design will begin next year.
A JDC official said, "Jeju needs a public-type data center," adding, "We are also considering a plan to use it to handle public data and administrative services, as well as to serve as a buffer that can help offset the intermittency of renewable energy."
The funding will be raised through a combination of central government funds, local government funds, and private capital. If residents raise concerns, the agency plans to explain the need for the project and seek consultation.■ Normalizing Yerae and Healthcare Town comes firstSong also made clear that he will prioritize the normalization of long-delayed projects. He stressed, "While I am here, I will focus on normalizing the two projects, Yerae and Healthcare Town."
The Yerae Recreational Housing Complex was halted after land development work was completed, when rulings on expropriation and approval of the amusement park implementation plan were successively invalidated during construction of the first-phase condominium project. As of June, JDC had reached agreements on 78.9% of the target land area and had paid about 63.2 billion won in additional compensation. It plans to begin survey and design work, as well as project approvals, by the end of the year.
Construction at Jeju Healthcare Town also stopped in 2017 after Greenland Group, which was carrying out the second phase, ran into financing difficulties due to Chinese government restrictions on overseas investment. JDC is seeking ways to restart the project with Greenland Group. It is also operating the medical service center it directly invested in and is preparing a construction plan for a proposed medical bio center.
JDC plans to find a breakthrough by pushing ahead with both projects in parallel. Song said, "It is difficult to move forward with other projects unless Yerae and Healthcare Town are resolved," adding, "For now, our main goal is to normalize those two projects."[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter