South Korea is set to build the world’s largest data centre, a groundbreaking project expected to reshape the global data infrastructure landscape. Approved by the government, the facility will be located in Jeollanam-do province and is projected to have an initial investment of $10 billion, with the potential to expand to $35 billion. The first phase alone is anticipated to generate $3.5 billion in revenue.
With a planned capacity of 3GW, the facility will surpass the size of existing hyperscale data centres operated by tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. The initiative is led by a consortium that includes major industry players and Stock Farm Road, in partnership with the Jeollanam-do provincial government, which has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support its development.
Scheduled for completion by 2028, the project aligns with the rapid expansion of the global data centre market, which is projected to reach $438.70 billion by the same year. However, it faces industry-wide challenges, including high energy consumption and the need for sustainable water resources. Addressing these concerns will be crucial to ensuring the facility’s long-term viability.
Globally, countries are investing heavily in data centre infrastructure to meet the surging demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence. In the U.S., Meta has committed $10 billion to a similar project, although its facility is expected to create only 500 direct jobs. South Korea’s initiative reinforces the nation’s position as a leader in digital transformation, promising significant economic and technological benefits.
