OpenAI is considering building a data center in South Korea, according to statements made during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday. The announcement was made by Jason Kwon, OpenAI's Chief Strategy Officer, during the company's media briefing. OpenAI also suggested it might expand its cooperation with major conglomerates like Samsung and SK, vowing to support the government's efforts to achieve sovereignty in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

Executive Announcement

Jason Kwon, serving as OpenAI's Chief Strategy Officer(CSO), addressed the potential data center development during Wednesday's announcement of the official launch of its Korean office, the company's third in Asia and the 12th globally. The executive's appearance in the South Korean capital signals the company's serious consideration of establishing infrastructure presence in the region.

However, the CSO did not specify the size or timing of OpenAI's investment in Korea. Staffing and leadership details for OpenAI Korea have not yet been disclosed.

Partnership with Samsung, SK

"When it comes to the hardware chip side, I think we have a lot of good partnerships in motion with companies like SK and Samsung," he said. Kwon met with Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won last month at the Korea-United States Business Roundtable in Washington, which followed the summit between the leaders of both countries.

On Thursday, OpenAI will sign a memorandum of understanding with Seoul National University for conducting joint AI research. To celebrate the launch of OpenAI Korea, the company will invite government officials, business leaders, scholars, and artists on the same day.

Expanding Ties Across Sectors

OpenAI has already teamed up with Korean companies in multiple sectors, including construction, electronics, telecommunications, finance, and e-commerce. Earlier this year, the company formed a strategic partnership with Kakao to bring ChatGPT to the Korean company's mobile messaging app.

Korea as an Innovation Hub

“Korea has long been recognized as a global technology powerhouse,” Kwon said, pointing to its advanced infrastructure, innovative companies, and tech-savvy consumers. He emphasized that these strengths make the country an ideal hub for driving AI innovation. Considering OpenAI's plans to collaborate with Korean companies, academia, and the government to accelerate the country's AI transformation, he also downplayed concerns that the Lee Jae Myung administration's push for sovereign AI could harm the U.S. firm's operations in Korea.

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