Digital Edge Seoul Bupyeong Campus: 96MW AI-Ready Data Center in South Korea
Status: Phase 1 Operational (SEL2) / Phase 2 Under Construction (SEL3) | Location: Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area, South Korea
Project Overview
Digital Edge’s Seoul Bupyeong Campus, comprising the SEL2 and SEL3 facilities, is the largest commercial data center campus development in South Korea and a strategic hyperscale digital infrastructure hub serving the Seoul metropolitan region. Located in Incheon’s Bupyeong district, approximately 25 kilometers from central Seoul, the campus is designed to deliver up to 96 MW of critical IT capacity, supporting the rapidly growing requirements of global hyperscale cloud providers, over-the-top (OTT) content platforms, telecommunications operators, financial institutions, and enterprises deploying artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. Engineered for next-generation computing environments, the campus offers flexible high-density rack configurations ranging from 10+ kVA to more than 50 kW per rack, with direct-to-chip liquid cooling readiness for GPU-intensive AI infrastructure. Advanced chilled-water cooling systems are designed to achieve an ultra-efficient target Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of approximately 1.28, delivering exceptional energy efficiency while supporting high-performance operations. As a carrier-neutral campus, SEL2 and SEL3 are interconnected through dedicated dark fiber to Digital Edge’s highly connected SEL1 facility in Seoul’s Gangnam district and provide low-latency connectivity to major domestic internet exchanges, cloud availability zones, and international subsea cable landing stations in Busan. Combined with resilient power infrastructure, advanced physical security, continuous infrastructure monitoring, and scalable deployment capabilities, the Seoul Bupyeong Campus serves as a future-ready platform for cloud expansion, AI innovation, and digital transformation across South Korea and Northeast Asia.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Digital Edge Seoul Bupyeong Campus: 96MW AI-Ready Data Center in South Korea |
| Location | Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area, South Korea |
| Status | Phase 1 Operational (SEL2) / Phase 2 Under Construction (SEL3) |
| Commissioning | SEL2 Go-Live: Q4 2024 / SEL3 Go-Live: Target Q4 2027 |
| Total IT Load | 96 MW Critical IT Power Capacity Allocation (SEL2: 36 MW + SEL3: 60 MW) |
| Total Capacity | 96 MW Total Critical Power Capacity across an 85,400 m² (~919,000 sq ft) gross campus area |
| Tier Level | Tier III Equivalent Architecture / LEED Silver Design / ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II |
| Project Type | Purpose-Built Greenfield Hyperscale, High-Density AI-Ready Colocation & Sovereign Cloud Hub |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
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| City Name | Seoul |
| Population | ~9.4 million (Seoul city proper) |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~26 million (Seoul Capital Area metropolitan region) |
| City GDP | ~US$400 billion |
| Per Capita Income | ~US$42,000–45,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 1 / Alpha Global City |
| Key Strengths | Global financial center, technology and innovation hub, headquarters of major conglomerates (Samsung, LG, Hyundai), advanced infrastructure, world-class public transportation, strong education and research institutions, vibrant culture and tourism sector |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
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| Developer / Operator | Digital Edge |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) |
| Construction Contractor | SK ecoplant / Specialized Korean Mission-Critical General Contractors |
| MEP Engineering | Digital Edge In-House Technical Infrastructure & DPR Construction Engineering Teams |
| Network Connectivity | Carrier-neutral platform featuring diverse subterranean fiber entrance vaults; redundant Meet-Me-Rooms (MMRs); direct low-latency optical dark fiber backhaul linking to Gangnam (SEL1), Seoul Internet exchanges (KINX, KISA), and Busan cable landing stations (PUS1). |
| Power Infrastructure | Dual high-voltage grid feeders supplied by KEPCO, static distributed N+1 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) modules, automated switchgear, and standby emergency diesel generator arrays with multi-day on-site fuel reserves. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
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| Power Capacity | 96 MW Secured Utility Power Allocation |
| UPS Redundancy | N+1 Distributed Redundant Static UPS Architecture |
| Cooling System | High-efficiency chilled-water precision cooling plant with free-cooling economizers, Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling (DLC) readiness for ultra-high-density GPU arrays, and automated BMS environmental controls. |
| Connectivity | Carrier-neutral host offering direct low-latency cloud express on-ramps and cross-connect options across Korean and international fiber routes. |
| PUE Target | < 1.28 Annualized Operational Design PUE |
| Energy Mix | High-reliability KEPCO grid power supported by Green Loan financing structure and commitments toward certified renewable energy purchasing. |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
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| Announcement | 2022 |
| Construction Start | April 2023 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Operational (SEL2 - Q4 2024) |
| Full Buildout | Active Multi-Building Campus Expansion (SEL3 RFS Q4 2027) |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
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| Total Investment | Estimated $1,000,000,000+ USD Total Campus Capital Expenditure |
| Funding | Corporate Capital Expenditure & Green Loan Debt Financing (Digital Edge / Stonepeak) |