"'AI Capital' Speeding Up"... 1.2 Trillion Won AI Data Center to Be Built in Dangjin
- Input
- 2026-09-09 08:43:34
- Updated
- 2026-09-09 08:43:34
South Chungcheong Province announced on the 9th that it signed an 'Investment Agreement (MOU) for the Construction of an AI Data Center' with Dangjin City, EFD, and NFC Korea at the situation room of the provincial government office. The signing ceremony was attended by South Chungcheong Governor Park Soo-hyun, Dangjin Mayor Kijae Kim, EFD CEO Choi Jeong-yeol, NFC Korea CEO Choi Jae-woo, and others.
Under the agreement, EFD will invest a total of 1.2405 trillion won from this month through 2029 to establish a 100 MW AI data center on a 35,239 m2 site within the Songsan 2 General Industrial Complex in Dangjin. To proceed with the project, the company has secured the project site and has currently submitted a 100 MW power system impact assessment to Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and is undergoing the building permit process. NFC Korea, a company specializing in development and operation, will cooperate throughout the project based on its licensing capabilities and experience in building data centers.
It is expected that the construction of this facility will create 80 new jobs, and South Chungcheong Province and Dangjin City have agreed to prioritize hiring talented local individuals.
South Chungcheong Province anticipates that this investment will not only significantly strengthen Dangjin's existing industrial base but also create a virtuous cycle leading to the expansion of the region's entire AI industry ecosystem and the attraction of related companies and talent. In particular, the plan is to go beyond mere IT infrastructure and foster it into an "industrial innovation hub" where companies, universities, and research institutions collaborate closely, thereby maximizing synergy with the region's key industries.
Governor Park stated, "We will gather the heartbeats of the 'data heart' that has started beating throughout the province to inject vitality into the transition to AI across the entire industry," adding, "We will accelerate AI investment through 'innovation of the three forces—electricity, hydropower, and manpower' and 'light-speed administration.'"
Governor Park continued, "The great transformation to AI depends on securing a stable power supply, sufficient water, and specialized personnel," adding, "We will connect Dangjin's AI data center with the province's core manufacturing infrastructure, including semiconductors, displays, automobiles, steel, and petrochemicals, to make South Chungcheong Province the 'future of the AI era.'"
Meanwhile, South Chungcheong Province's successful bid to attract a large-scale data center is drawing attention as it aligns with the government's recent policy to decentralize data centers to regional areas. With the Seoul metropolitan area's power grid remaining saturated, the government has been actively encouraging the relocation of data centers with high power demands to non-capital regions, based on measures such as the Special Act on Activation of Distributed Energy. The South Chungcheong region, including Dangjin, is emerging as a top alternative location for major IT companies and data center developers that were previously concentrated in the capital area, due to its excellent accessibility to the capital and favorable connectivity with large-scale power infrastructure.
[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter