[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] Ha Jeong-woo, Executive Vice Chairman of the National AI Strategy Committee, visited Gangwon Province to inspect sites for AI-powered medical and transportation services as well as talent development programs, and to review plans for the construction of a large-scale AI data center.

The National AI Strategy Committee stated that Vice Chairman Ha visited Pyeongchang, Gangneung, and Donghae in Gangwon Province on the 19th and 20th to review the progress of AI policy initiatives and listen to the opinions of local residents and businesses. The itinerary was designed to review the progress of the Donghae AI Data Center—included in the government’s “Three Major Mega-Projects for Korea’s Great Leap Forward”—and to discuss plans for AI-based primary healthcare, transportation innovation, and regional talent development.

On the first day, Vice Chair Ha visited the Pyeongchang County Health and Medical Center and the Ha-anmi Health Clinic to examine the current status of digital health services in medically underserved areas, including AI-based prevention and management of chronic diseases and frailty, as well as remote collaborative care. This approach aims to bridge gaps in medical care in areas with insufficient medical personnel and facilities through services such as managing medication intake for elderly residents and analyzing and recommending exercise regimens.

He then toured the Gangneung Urban Information Center to observe smart city operations, including the integrated monitoring of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and closed-circuit (CC) TV. At the ministerial meeting of the “2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress,” he delivered a keynote speech on the theme “AI-Driven Transportation: Mobility for All,” emphasizing the importance of AI-based transportation innovation and international cooperation.

At the Gangneung Campus of Korea Polytechnic University, he discussed plans for training young AI professionals with Lee Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Board of Korea Polytechnic University. He toured the practical training facilities for departments such as Electrical Control and Smart Automotive Engineering and spoke with students about career paths and job opportunities in the AI era. He also held a roundtable discussion with representatives of AI startups in the Gangneung area to hear about challenges in business operations and potential policy support measures.

On the 20th, he visited Donghae City, where he received a briefing from #GS Holdings on plans to build an AI data center and measures to secure power and water supplies, and inspected the planned site within the Bukpyeong No. 2 General Industrial Complex. The Donghae AI Data Center is scheduled to be built with a total capacity of 2.4 GW by 2029. The total investment is approximately 30 trillion won, and when equipment such as graphics processing units (GPUs) and memory is included, the total scale is projected to reach about 120 trillion won.

He then visited the #LS Cable Donghae Plant to inspect the production facilities and technologies necessary for powering the data center, such as high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and superconducting cables.

Vice Chairman Ha stated, “The Donghae AI Data Center is a core piece of infrastructure that will support our leap toward becoming one of the top three AI powers, as well as a project that can serve as a new growth opportunity for the region,” adding, “I will examine the challenges involved in moving the project forward, such as securing power and water supplies.” He continued, “We will cooperate with local governments, companies, and relevant government agencies to ensure that the construction of the data center leads to tangible economic benefits for the region, such as the cultivation of local talent, the hiring of specialized personnel, the participation of local businesses, and the fostering of related industries.”