South Korean Vice Prime Minister: Data Center Construction Should Not Be Slowed Amid Concerns Over US AI Investment

on November 6, according to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Ki-heung stated on November 6 that despite heightened market concerns over stricter AI data center regulations and slowing investment following the U.S. midterm elections, South Korea should not halt or delay AI infrastructure investments due to current market sentiment.

Bae Ki-heung noted that even if the investment pace slows in the United States, countries such as China, France, and Canada may take the opportunity to increase their commitments, and global AI competition will not easily cool down. He believes that while the AI market may experience significant short-term volatility due to uncertainties, it is still expected to maintain long-term growth.

Additionally, the South Korean government is exploring the development of ultra-large-scale frontier AI projects with a scale 10 to 20 times that of existing domestic AI foundation model initiatives, and is discussing the establishment of a national cybersecurity coordination mechanism covering the public, private, and military sectors.