GAK Sejong: NAVER's Gigawatt-Scale NVIDIA DSX AI Factory
Status: South Korea | Location: 824, Haengbok-daero, Sejong-si, South Korea
Project Overview
The NAVER GAK Sejong AI Expansion is a landmark digital infrastructure development transforming NAVER's existing hyperscale flagship into a massive, gigawatt-scale AI Factory. Formally announced on June 7, 2026, via a strategic alliance with NVIDIA, the project serves as the primary launchpad for South Korea’s sovereign artificial intelligence initiative. The expansion is custom-engineered to meet strict data localization and security mandates for domestic enterprise and government operations. Moving rapidly into hardware staging, specialized power distribution upgrades, and mechanical modifications in mid-2026, the project kicks off with an immediate 55 MW hardware expansion layer. Rather than operating as a general-purpose cloud center, the new wing is built entirely on the unified NVIDIA DSX full-stack reference architecture. This specialized layout combines high-density accelerated computing matrices, custom runtime layers, and advanced workload orchestration to minimize token creation costs. The facility will directly power NAVER’s upcoming real-time AI Agent Platform and the "Seoul World Model" a massive spatial digital twin utilizing urban street-view modeling and generative physics simulators.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
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| Project Name | GAK Sejong: NAVER's Gigawatt-Scale NVIDIA DSX AI Factory |
| Location | 824, Haengbok-daero, Sejong-si, South Korea |
| Status | South Korea |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 initial 55 MW dedicated AI cluster staging targeted for late 2026 / early 2027 |
| Total IT Load | ~270.0 MW net critical operational compute capacity across expanded campus footprint |
| Total Capacity | 1.00 Gigawatt (1,000 MW) gross ultimate master-planned AI Factory roadmap |
| Tier Level | Tier IV Compliant (Fault-tolerant architectural design and power paths) |
| Project Type | Brownfield Campus Expansion, Gigawatt-Scale AI Factory & Sovereign Cloud Hub |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
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| City Name | Sejong-si |
| Population | ~410,000 (2025 estimate) |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~430,000 |
| City GDP | ~USD 18 billion (estimated) |
| Per Capita Income | ~USD 43,000–45,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 2 (South Korea) |
| Key Strengths | Administrative capital of South Korea; concentration of government ministries and public institutions; planned smart city development; modern infrastructure; high quality of life; strong public-sector employment; innovation and sustainability initiatives |
Companies Involved
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| Developer / Operator | NAVER Corporation |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | NVIDIA Corporation (Full-Stack Technology Blueprint & Silicon Alliance) |
| Construction Contractor | Leading South Korean Tier-1 Prime Mission-Critical General Builders |
| MEP Engineering | Joint NAVER Core Data Center Engineering Division & NVIDIA Advanced Systems Design Group |
| Network Connectivity | Ultra-high-bandwidth, carrier-neutral private fiber fabrics deploying custom optical switches to seamlessly interconnect tens of thousands of processing units |
| Power Infrastructure | Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) Regional Transmission Network (Enhanced high-voltage dedicated substation integrations) |
Technical Specifications
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| Power Capacity | Initial 55 MW rapid deployment block scaling into a long-term, multi-phase 1.0 GW gross utility power roadmap |
| UPS Redundancy | $2(N+1)$ fault-tolerant solid-state UPS configurations optimized for heavy GPU transient surges and continuous cluster stabilization |
| Cooling System | Next-generation direct-to-chip liquid cooling loops paired with GAK Sejong's existing NAMU (NAVER Air Membrane Unit) natural free-air handling units |
| Connectivity | Minimum of 6 physically isolated, concrete-hardened network entry points providing absolute path routing diversity and ultra-low latency backbones |
| PUE Target | $\le 1.15$ design-optimized annualized operating profile utilizing NVIDIA DSX MaxLPS software to maximize token throughput per megawatt |
| Energy Mix | High-efficiency campus architectural integration utilizing localized solar arrays, thermal energy storage walls, and smart rainwater harvesting blocks |
Milestones
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| Announcement | 2026 - Q2 |
| Construction Start | 2026 - Q2 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | 2027 - Q1 |
| Full Buildout | 2030 - Q4 |
Investment Details
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| Total Investment | Multi-billion dollar long-term capital allocation with high-density GPU computing hardware accounting for the vast majority of infrastructure costs |
| Funding | Direct corporate capital expenditures from NAVER Corporation, supported by structured strategic technology development funds |