Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest approximately 10 trillion won ($7 billion) in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, to develop its future growth engines: artificial intelligence, hydrogen, and robotics businesses.
According to government and business sources on the 23rd, Hyundai Motor Group is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding as early as this week with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, and Saemangeum Development Agency for the 10 trillion won investment in future business development.
The investment, part of Hyundai Motor Group's domestic investment plan announced last year, is expected to include facilities related to AI, hydrogen, and robotics. In November last year, the group announced total domestic investments of 125.2 trillion won over five years from 2025 through 2030. Of this amount, 50.5 trillion won is earmarked for future business sectors including AI, software-defined vehicles, electrification, robotics, and hydrogen.
At that time, Hyundai Motor Group stated, "We will review investments in consultation with central and local governments to create a hydrogen AI smart city incorporating our core new technologies such as AI, hydrogen, and vehicle-to-everything communication." The company added, "We will actively expand investments in each region to stimulate local economies."
Hyundai Motor Group is reportedly reviewing plans to establish an AI data center, physical AI application center, robot factory, and water electrolysis plant in Saemangeum. The Saemangeum area, with land 140 times the size of Yeouido and abundant sunlight, is considered ideal for building AI data centers that require large spaces and substantial power supply.
Through the AI data center, Hyundai Motor Group plans to store and utilize AI training data generated from physical AI, robots, and autonomous vehicles. The company has secured 50,000 units of Nvidia's latest graphics processing units, which are expected to be deployed for the data center and related projects.
