Governor inspects Bukpyeong Second Industrial Complex site
Permit procedures to be completed by October
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Governor Woo Sang-ho visited the planned site for GS Group's AI data center at the Bukpyeong Second General Industrial Complex in Donghae on Tuesday, pledging to break ground before year's end through expedited administrative support for the 120 trillion won ($88.2 billion) mega-project.
At the site, Woo met with Donghae Mayor Lee Jeong-hak and senior GS Group executives — including GS E&R CEO Hwang Byeong-so, GS Donghae Power CEO Baek Yun-hyeon and GS AI Infrastructure CEO Do Hyeon-su — to review the project's progress and share updates on its development.
Gangwon Province and Donghae city said they would listen to the companies' concerns and put in place tailored administrative support measures in a timely manner.
Woo toured the Bukpyeong industrial complex site in person, receiving briefings from GS officials on the data center's development status and conducting an on-site review of plans for the early construction of key infrastructure — including power supply and water facilities — needed to build the data center.
The Donghae Bukpyeong AI data center is Asia's largest planned mega-project, with a total capacity of 2.4 GW and investment of up to 120 trillion won, covering the installation of advanced equipment including GPUs. All relevant permits and approvals are expected to be finalized by October, with construction set to begin this year.
"It is hugely significant that a major conglomerate is bringing an AI data center to what has been an empty site, as it marks the full-scale inflow of large-scale investment into the region," Woo said. "We must nurture specialized AI data center talent that companies need, so that it leads to quality jobs and young people putting down roots here, while also expanding the participation of local businesses."
He added that the province would develop the East Sea coastal zone into an advanced industrial hub centered on AI data centers by attracting follow-on investment and related companies.
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