Hyundai Motor Group Advances $9 Trillion Won Saemangeum AI Valley

Hyundai Motor Group is pushing ahead with its large-scale "AI Valley" in Saemangeum, South Korea, a project that combines renewable energy, artificial intelligence, robotics and hydrogen. Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon gave an update on Thursday and asked the government and National Assembly for active policy support.

Jang spoke at an on-site meeting in Saemangeum, hosted by the Democratic Party's special committee on mega growth at the Saemangeum Energy Convergence Complex support center. "Since announcing the 9 trillion won investment in Saemangeum, we have been carrying out the planned projects without setbacks," he said. He added that the group aims to make the area a future industrial hub where renewable energy, AI data centers, robotics and hydrogen grow together.

Party leader Kim Min-seok, senior committee officials, North Jeonbuk Governor Lee Won-taek and Saemangeum Development Agency head Moon Seong-yo attended. Hyundai Engineering & Construction CEO Lee Han-woo joined Jang for the company.

What has been done so far

In February, the group announced a plan to invest a total of 9 trillion won on a 1.124 million square meter site, about 340,000 pyeong. Since then it has created a dedicated organization for the project and restructured how each field is handled. It also joined the government-led Saemangeum and Jeonbuk innovation task force, where permits and infrastructure plans are coordinated.

The most notable step came in September, when the group set up a special purpose company (SPC) for solar power. That company is meant to supply the large amount of energy the project needs, and the group says it put the project on a firm footing.

Talent and next steps

Hyundai has also begun training people for the era of physical AI. It is discussing a contract-based department with Jeonbuk National University and talking with the Jeonbuk Office of Education about converting the curricula of Meister and specialized high schools.

Jang said that with government and parliamentary backing, more companies would invest, creating jobs and an industrial ecosystem that raises national competitiveness.