Yoo Sang-im, South Korea’s Minister of Science and ICT is set to travel to the United States later this week to explore ways to deepen collaboration with Nvidia on securing high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs). The effort is part of the country’s broader strategy to boost its AI computing infrastructure.
This announcement was made during a meeting of the government-led special committee on AI computing, chaired by Minister Yoo. The talks are part of South Korea’s broader efforts to advance its position in the rapidly evolving AI sector.
At the meeting, the ministry announced an additional budget of 1.46 trillion won (US$1.03 billion) to acquire 10,000 high-performance GPUs, a move aimed at strengthening South Korea’s AI capabilities. The funding supports a broader national strategy focused on procurement, infrastructure expansion, and public-private partnerships.
This initiative follows the government’s earlier commitment to secure 10,000 advanced GPUs by the end of the year to remain competitive in the global AI race. The GPUs will be essential for powering large-scale AI models and enabling domestic innovation across sectors.
In the initial phase, authorities will select a cloud service provider to oversee GPU procurement and begin developing infrastructure at the upcoming National AI Computing Center. The center will serve as a central hub for artificial intellegence research and development.
The program will also support local research institutes and state-backed projects by providing access to the national data center. Minister Yoo emphasized that securing cutting-edge GPUs marks the starting point for innovation in South Korea’s tech ecosystem, and stressed the importance of collaboration between government and industry to meet this year’s targets.
The initiative will also benefit local research centers and government-backed projects by granting access to the national data center, further encouraging collaboration between academic institutions and industry players. This shared infrastructure is expected to accelerate innovation and practical AI development across sectors.
“Securing advanced GPUs is just the starting point for transforming Korea’s AI ecosystem,” Minister Yoo stated. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working alongside both public and private entities to meet this year’s GPU acquisition goals and bolster national AI capabilities through expanded infrastructure and support for domestic initiatives.
