LS ELECTRIC Chairman Ja-Kyun Koo: “DC-based intelligent power grids will certainly meet AI power demand”

[Financial News] Ja-Kyun Koo, chairman and CEO of LS ELECTRIC Co., Ltd., said on the 2nd, “An intelligent power grid based on direct current (DC) is the sure solution for meeting the surging power demand from artificial intelligence (AI),” naming “direct current (DC)” and “intelligent platforms” as the key concepts for completing the future power-grid ecosystem.
In his keynote address at the 2026 International Conference on Electricity Distribution (CIRED) Workshop, held that day at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, Chairman Koo presented a vision for next-generation intelligent DC power grids and declared a major shift in the global energy paradigm.
This was the first time since its founding that the event, which discusses future standards and development directions for the global power industry, had been held in Asia. It is seen as a sign that South Korea has emerged as a key player in leading next-generation global power distribution technology alongside traditional powerhouses such as North America and Europe.
On a clear solution to the power shortage brought on by the expansion of AI infrastructure, Chairman Koo said, “For AI data centers that consume enormous amounts of electricity to operate reliably, they must be fully supported by a highly reliable power grid.” He added, “We need to build a powerful virtuous cycle in which increasingly sophisticated AI, in turn, predicts and manages the power grid intelligently and efficiently.”
In particular, Chairman Koo stressed, “We must move beyond the old, one-way method of transmitting electricity and now provide customer-tailored power infrastructure for data centers and other users by combining direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).” He added, “We must evolve into an ‘intelligent, two-way energy platform’ that combines data and AI in power equipment to detect anomalies early and exchange energy flexibly.” The future of the power distribution industry lies not merely in delivering electricity, but in moving toward an intelligent, two-way energy platform.
LS ELECTRIC Co., Ltd. is already seen as demonstrating the “DC paradigm” through tangible business results in North America, the world’s largest market. The company entered the United States early, as it faced power shortages amid the rapid growth of AI data centers, and has been winning contract after contract for ultra-high-efficiency power conversion systems (PCS) and power solutions tailored to data centers.
A representative of LS ELECTRIC Co., Ltd. said, “This keynote address was Ja-Kyun Koo’s official declaration on the world stage, representing South Korea’s power industry, that the paradigm for future power grids has fully shifted to direct current (DC).” The representative added, “Leveraging our overwhelming DC platform technology, we will make sure K-power takes the lead in meeting the surging global demand for AI power infrastructure.”
 


[email protected] Hak-jae Kim Reporter