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KR — ZDNet Korea

Government Overhauls AIDC Permitting and Facility Rules, Invests 200 Billion Won in Domestic Technology

Policy4 min read

The South Korean government plans to remove rules that slow down building AI data centers (AIDC) and to support homegrown technology. It will spend about 2,000 billion won (roughly 200 billion won, per the article's figure of 2000억원) on new projects next year.

What happened

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced a support plan for the AI data center ecosystem. The plan was shown at the second Regulatory Reform Committee meeting, which the president chaired at the Blue House guest house. The plan makes permit steps simpler, updates building rules for data centers, and helps Korean companies build and test their technology.

Key numbers and facts

  • About 2000억원 (2,000 hundred million won) in new projects planned for next year, based on the government budget proposal.
  • The special law on AI data center industry promotion was passed in June. Its detailed rules are now being prepared.
  • Parking lots and charging facilities are among the building rules being changed.
  • Unmanned rooms, such as server rooms and cooling and power equipment, will be left out when counting building size.
  • A special AIDC zone will be set up in the first half of next year.

Why the rules matter

An AI data center is a large building full of computer servers. Companies must go through many steps, such as a power grid impact review and a building permit. These steps can take a long time and delay projects. The government wants to combine these steps and give companies one contact point for help.

Why it matters

AI needs huge amounts of computing power, so data centers are a key part of the AI industry. By making permits faster and supporting Korean parts and equipment makers, the government hopes Korean firms can compete in the global market. The plan also tries to win local residents' trust, since these centers use large land areas and big power supplies.

What to watch

  • The government plans to announce draft enforcement decrees for public comment later this month.
  • Details of the special AIDC zone and the local cooperation plan, which will be required for businesses that get fee cuts.
  • Guidelines for communication between data center companies and local residents, made with local governments.
  • Whether companies get the real-world operating records they say they need.

Glossary

AIDC
AI data center: a large building with many computers that runs AI services all day and night.
MSIT
Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korean government office that handles science, technology, and communications policy.
Regulatory Reform Committee
A government group that looks at rules and works to remove ones that block business or growth.

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