South Korean Deputy Prime Minister: AI Data Center Regulation Still Under Observation After US Midterm Elections

on November 9, citing Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hang-il stated at a plenary session of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Special Committee that following the Democratic Party's victory in the U.S. midterm elections, markets had expressed concerns over stricter regulations on AI data centers. However, he noted, "There are currently no special circumstances, and further observation is needed." He made these remarks in response to a question from an opposition lawmaker regarding whether the government's initial U.S. investment project, a gas-fired power plant, would be affected by political pressures. Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated that if U.S. data center investments face hurdles, hyperscale data center operators may pivot toward South Korea. "Developments in the U.S. could present an opportunity for us." The government is closely monitoring the situation and assessing its impact on supporting industries and the response from the U.S. business community. Addressing concerns about whether recent controversies surrounding NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang might impact the negotiated GPU supply, Lee confirmed that it "will proceed smoothly without any complications."