SK chairman says Ulsan AI data center expansion nearing 900 megawatts

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said the Ulsan AI data center expansion was nearing 900 megawatts at the 2026 Ulsan Forum on Friday. He said talks with global technology companies were moving quickly and that SK hoped to announce the plan soon. The project is being built by SK Telecom with Amazon Web Services and is scheduled to start operating in the second half of next year. Chey also said Ulsan could become a testing ground for AI transformation in manufacturing.

SK Telecom said in July that it planned to expand the Ulsan site to 1 gigawatt and develop more than 2 gigawatts of AI data center capacity across South and North Gyeongsang provinces.

SK has said the Ulsan project will require about 7 trillion won, or $5.2 billion, in investment.

The Ulsan AI data center was initially launched as a 100-megawatt facility.

The project is the starting point for SK Telecom’s broader plan to build up to 15 gigawatts of AI data center capacity across Korea.

This year’s Ulsan Forum drew more than 10,000 online and in-person participants.

Published Sep 13, 2026 4:36 pm KST

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won speaks during the 2026 Ulsan Forum in Ulsan, Friday. Courtesy of SK Group

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said Friday that the planned expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Ulsan was nearing 900 megawatts, with talks with global technology companies making rapid progress as the group seeks to turn the industrial city into a hub for manufacturing AI.

“Ulsan has almost come all the way to 900 megawatts,” Chey told reporters at the 2026 Ulsan Forum in the city. “I think we will be able to announce it soon.”

The group’s telecommunications arm, SK Telecom, is building the AI data center in Ulsan in partnership with Amazon Web Services. The project was initially launched as a 100-megawatt facility and is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of next year.

The Ulsan project, which SK has said will require about 7 trillion won ($5.2 billion) in investment, is the starting point for SK Telecom’s broader plan to build up to 15 gigawatts of AI data center capacity across Korea.

“It has not even been a year since the current data center plan came out,” Chey said. “We have continued discussions with big tech companies, so the progress is quite fast.”

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, front row, inspects the construction of SK's artificial intelligence data center in Ulsan, Thursday. Courtesy of SK Innovation

He also highlighted the importance of securing a stable power supply as AI data centers consume large amounts of electricity around the clock.

“SK Innovation is making energy solutions using AI and is also making electrification solutions needed for AI data centers,” he said. “We also have partners and investment plans to expand them further.”

The chairman said Ulsan, a major manufacturing base, could serve as a testing ground for AI transformation, or AX, in manufacturing.

“Ulsan was also a strategically important industrial base for Korea in the past,” he said. “If it becomes a leading model, it has the potential to lead the spread of AI in Korea.”

During the forum, Chey also warned that the AI industry needs sustainable business models to support its massive investment.

“I am worried if we make huge investments, but there is not much return,” he said. “If all of humanity has put in this much energy, we need to create better business models and commercialize them.”

He said AI businesses must eventually generate their own revenue and reinvest it to achieve long-term sustainability.

The Ulsan Forum, launched in 2022, brings together SK Group, local industry and the community to discuss the region’s future. This year’s event drew more than 10,000 online and in-person participants.

SK集团会长崔泰元周五在2026蔚山论坛上表示，蔚山人工智能数据中心扩建项目装机容量即将达到900兆瓦。他表示，与全球科技公司的洽谈进展迅速，SK希望尽快公布该计划。该项目由SK Telecom与亚马逊网络服务（AWS）合作建设，预计将于明年下半年投入运营。崔泰元还表示，蔚山有望成为人工智能在制造业转型中的试验场。

SK Telecom 在 7 月份表示，计划将蔚山数据中心扩建至 1 吉瓦，并在庆尚南道和庆尚北道开发超过 2 吉瓦的人工智能数据中心容量。

SK表示，蔚山项目将需要约7万亿韩元（约合52亿美元）的投资。

蔚山人工智能数据中心最初是一个100兆瓦的设施。

该项目是 SK Telecom 在韩国建设高达 15 吉瓦人工智能数据中心容量的更广泛计划的起点。

今年的蔚山论坛吸引了超过10000名线上和线下参与者。

发布于2026年9月13日下午4:36（韩国标准时间）

SK集团会长崔泰源周五在蔚山举行的2026蔚山论坛上发表讲话。图片由SK集团提供。

SK集团董事长崔泰元周五表示，其位于蔚山的人工智能（AI）数据中心扩建计划已接近900兆瓦，与全球科技公司的谈判正在快速推进，该集团正寻求将这座工业城市打造成为人工智能制造中心。

“蔚山发电量几乎已经达到900兆瓦的目标了，”Chey在蔚山举行的2026蔚山论坛上告诉记者，“我想我们很快就能宣布这个消息了。”

该集团旗下的电信公司SK Telecom正与亚马逊网络服务公司（AWS）合作，在蔚山建设人工智能数据中心。该项目最初规划为一座100兆瓦的设施，预计将于明年下半年投入运营。

SK 表示，蔚山项目将需要约 7 万亿韩元（52 亿美元）的投资，这是 SK 电信在韩国建设高达 15 吉瓦人工智能数据中心容量的更广泛计划的起点。

“目前的数据中心规划出台还不到一年，”Chey说。“我们一直在与大型科技公司进行磋商，所以进展相当迅速。”

周四，SK集团会长崔泰元（前排）视察了位于蔚山的SK人工智能数据中心建设情况。图片由SK Innovation提供。

他还强调了确保稳定电力供应的重要性，因为人工智能数据中心全天候消耗大量电力。

“SK Innovation正在利用人工智能技术开发能源解决方案，同时也在开发人工智能数据中心所需的电气化解决方案，”他说道。“我们还有合作伙伴和投资计划，以进一步拓展这些业务。”

董事长表示，蔚山作为重要的制造业基地，可以作为制造业人工智能转型（AX）的试验场。

他说：“蔚山过去也是韩国具有重要战略意义的产业基地。如果它能成为领先典范，就有可能引领人工智能在韩国的普及。”

在论坛期间，Chey 还警告说，人工智能行业需要可持续的商业模式来支撑其巨额投资。

“我担心如果我们投入巨资，却收效甚微，”​​他说。“如果全人类都投入了这么多精力，我们就需要创建更好的商业模式并将其商业化。”

他表示，人工智能企业最终必须自行创造收入并将其再投资，才能实现长期可持续发展。

蔚山论坛于2022年创办，汇聚了SK集团、当地产业界和社区各界人士，共同探讨该地区的未来发展。今年的论坛吸引了超过1万名线上和线下参与者。