35,000-square-meter complex at Bukpyeong 2nd General Industrial Complex
Ground-breaking set for this year, completion targeted for second half of 2028
Construction of an AI data center complex in Donghae, Gangwon Province — set to serve major South Korean conglomerates and global players in advanced AI — is moving faster than expected.
Donghae city announced Friday that it has issued a building permit for a 100 MW data center, the first phase of GS Group's planned 2.4 GW AI data center development at the Bukpyeong 2nd General Industrial Complex.
The city granted the final building permit Thursday to Donghae AI Third Campus Co. after consultations with relevant departments and agencies covering architecture, environmental review and urban planning. The process also included amendments to the industrial complex management master plan and a power grid impact assessment by Korea Electric Power Corporation.
The approved facility represents one-twelfth of the first-phase campus, which is planned at 1.2 GW in total capacity.
The data center will be built on a roughly 68,000-square-meter site within the Bukpyeong 2nd General Industrial Complex, with a total floor area of approximately 35,000 square meters across two above-ground floors. Supporting infrastructure — including a substation, electrical rooms and emergency generators — will also be installed on the site.
The permit marks a turning point for the project, which had until now been focused on planning and regulatory approvals. The developer plans to break ground this year and aims to complete the facility in the second half of 2028.
Donghae city said it will work closely with relevant agencies throughout construction to verify that work complies with applicable laws and design documents, and to ensure that permit conditions and agreed-upon requirements related to safety, the environment and traffic are fully met.
"With this building permit, the key administrative procedures for establishing the AI data center have been completed," said Kim Hyun-su, head of the city's architecture division. "We will cooperate closely with relevant agencies to ensure construction proceeds safely and smoothly, and will take thorough precautions on issues of public safety and environmental protection."
abc@heraldcorp.com
