[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] NHN(181710)is securing additional infrastructure on a scale comparable to its current data centers to cultivate its artificial intelligence (AI) graphics processing unit (GPU) business as a new growth engine. The company is also pursuing GPU supply contracts with overseas firms and expanding the GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) operational capabilities it has built up in Korea to the global market.

During its Q2 2026 earnings call on the 11th, NHN announced plans to secure an additional 30 MW of AI data center capacity by the second half of next year. Of this, 20 MW will be leased from external data centers, while the remaining 10 MW will be built in its own data centers.

Kim Dong-hoon, CEO of NHN Cloud, said, “Of the 30MW, we plan to lease approximately 20MW and build the remaining 10MW in our own data centers, targeting the second half of next year.” He added, “In terms of total capacity, this is roughly equivalent to our current facilities in Yangpyeong, Pangyo, and Gwangju combined.”

NHN’s move to expand its AI infrastructure stems from the fact that its GPU business has emerged as a new driver of earnings growth. NHN’s second-quarter consolidated revenue reached 757.9 billion won, a 25.3% increase year-over-year, while operating profit rose 164.1% to 57.9 billion won. Both revenue and operating profit marked all-time quarterly highs.

Growth was particularly notable in the Technology segment, which includes the AI GPU business. Revenue in the Technology segment reached 159.8 billion won, a 52.9% increase year-over-year. At the Yangpyeong region in Seoul, which began operations at the end of March, the full-scale supply of NVIDIA B200-based GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) began in the second quarter, driving an 85.3% year-over-year increase in NHN Cloud’s second-quarter revenue.

NHN CEO Jung Woojin explained, “The biggest driver of this quarter’s improved performance is NHN Cloud’s AI GPU business,” adding, “With the full-scale rollout of B200-based GPU-as-a-Service in the Yangpyeong region, revenue has begun to flow steadily.”

He continued, “We are currently discussing new long-term contracts for the remaining capacity in the Yangpyeong region, which is now operational,” adding, “As a result, revenue visibility for the GPU business is improving further, and we expect a more positive revenue trend than initially anticipated starting next year.”

The company is also stepping up its push into overseas markets. NHN Cloud is currently in contract discussions with some customers as demand for GPUs from overseas companies has recently increased. To expand its supply capacity for global customers, the company is also working to secure data center capacity in Japan.

CEO Kim stated, “We are preparing our GPU business with a focus on overseas markets rather than the domestic market, and we are seeing a recent trend of increasing demand from overseas companies,” adding, “We plan to sign contracts with some of these customers in the near future.”

He continued, “In the GPU business, the key is how quickly we can supply GPUs when customers need them,” adding, “We are also preparing to expand our services to global customers by securing data center capacity in Japan.”

He also expressed confidence in the profitability of the GPU business. In particular, he predicted that the margin for NHN Cloud’s business—in which it directly procures, operates, and sells GPUs—would be higher than that of the volume secured through government GPU deployment projects.

Ahn Hyun-sik, NHN’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), said, “With government projects, while we receive GPU usage rights, we must bear certain operational costs,” adding, “We expect the margin rate to be higher for our directly operated business.”

NHN is also adding the latest GPUs—NVIDIA B300 or higher—to its existing data centers. To meet the growing demand for AI in the medium to long term, the company plans to continue exploring options to secure additional data center floor space beyond the current 30 MW.

With the growth of the AI GPU business, attention is also turning to the timing of NHN Cloud’s initial public offering (IPO). NHN recently acknowledged that regulatory developments regarding dual listings of subsidiaries are affecting its listing plans. While the company is currently discussing the matter with IMM, its financial investor (FI), it maintains that it is difficult to confirm whether or when an IPO will take place at this time.

CFO Ahn stated, “While proceeding with the IPO as we wish is important, it is also essential that the company’s value is properly reflected,” adding, “We will be able to provide a concrete answer regarding the IPO once the GPU business gains further momentum and we secure sufficient operating profit.”