AMD holds AI event in Korea for first time, deepens semiconductor cooperation

AMD's flagship AI event, the "AMD Advancing AI World Tour Seoul 2026," was held in South Korea for the first time.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said it will use the occasion to significantly deepen cooperation with AMD in the AI semiconductor sector.

The ministry held a steering committee meeting under its memorandum of understanding with AMD on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the AMD AI event at the Westin Seoul Parnas Hotel.

The steering committee is a joint consultative body that the two sides operate on a regular basis to implement the MOU signed in July. Wednesday's session was convened to review ongoing cooperation projects and discuss plans going forward.

The two sides had reaffirmed their commitment to AI semiconductor cooperation in October, when AMD Chair Lisa Su visited South Korea and met with Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT Ryu Je-myung.

The steering committee meeting was attended by Lee Do-gyu, director general for information and communications policy at the ministry, and Keith Strier, AMD's senior vice president for global AI markets.

The two sides discussed how to build a heterogeneous AI computing infrastructure linking AMD's CPUs and GPUs with domestically developed neural processing units. They also reviewed progress on key MOU initiatives — including the establishment of an AMD AI research center, university support and AI talent development — and discussed timelines going forward.

The "Advancing AI" event that prompted the steering committee meeting is one of AMD's signature AI technology showcases, and Wednesday marked the first time it has been held in South Korea. More than 1,300 people pre-registered, filling capacity early and drawing strong interest. LG Electronics, Morre, Mangoboost and other domestic companies working with AMD on AI computing infrastructure also took part.

Lee, the ministry's director general for information and communications policy, joined a panel discussion held as part of the event, where participants explored the direction of South Korea's AI ecosystem and avenues for cooperation.

Second Vice Minister Ryu delivered congratulatory remarks welcoming the event's Korea debut and pledged to continue expanding cooperation with AMD. Ryu and AMD Senior Vice President Strier also toured an exhibition showcasing domestic companies' AI technologies and computing infrastructure and exchanged updates on cooperation progress.

"The Ministry of Science and ICT will make every effort to ensure that the cooperation projects we have discussed with AMD under our MOU proceed without a hitch, contributing to the growth of domestic AI semiconductor companies and strengthening the competitiveness of our AI ecosystem," Ryu said.

Meanwhile, during her visit to South Korea in October, AMD Chair Lisa Su told a roundtable with 13 domestic AI semiconductor ecosystem companies that AMD plans to hire hundreds of AI researchers to support both the advancement of AI technology and South Korea's AI ecosystem, and announced plans to establish an AMD AI Center of Excellence.