KAIST Unveils 10MW AI Research Hub

A New Hub for AI Innovation

The Pangyo Research Building, a key facility of the KAIST Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI, has officially broken ground. This project was made possible through the generous personal donation of Honorary Chairman Kim Jae-chul, the founder of Dongwon Group and a 91-year-old visionary. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on the 26th, marking an important milestone in South Korea’s AI development.

Location and Design Details

Located in Pangyo-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, the research building is set to become a central hub for advanced AI research. The site spans 6,000 square meters, with a total floor area of 18,185 square meters. The structure will include one basement level and eight above-ground floors, housing state-of-the-art AI convergence research labs, lecture rooms, and collaborative spaces for industry-academia partnerships.

The project, which costs 54.2 billion won, is entirely funded by Honorary Chairman Kim’s donation. It is expected to be completed in February 2028, and will accommodate 50 professors and 1,000 students engaged in AI research across various fields, including new drug development, weather forecasting, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Cutting-Edge Facilities

One of the most remarkable features of the research building is its 10MW-class urban AI data center. Unlike traditional large data centers that are often located on the outskirts of cities due to power and cooling challenges, this data center will be integrated directly into the building. This setup allows researchers to access high-performance computing resources without relying on external cloud services.

Additionally, the building will feature a robotics laboratory dedicated to physical AI and humanoid research, further expanding the scope of AI innovation.

Strategic Location and Industry Connections

The location of the research building in the heart of Pangyo Techno Valley is also a significant advantage. This area is home to numerous AI and robotics companies, such as Kakao, Naver Labs, and Doosan Robotics. The proximity to these industry leaders is expected to foster strong collaborations between academia and the private sector.

Seongnam City has provided the site on a free lease, further supporting the initiative and highlighting the city’s commitment to advancing AI research.

Honorary Chairman Kim’s Vision and Contributions

Honorary Chairman Kim has been a long-term supporter of AI education and research. Since 2020, he has donated a total of 60.3 billion won to KAIST. As a result, the university renamed its AI graduate school to the ‘Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI’ and has expanded its programs by adding 60 master’s and 10 doctoral students.

Kim’s interest in AI talent development was sparked after witnessing the 2016 match between Google’s AlphaGo and Lee Sedol. He even went to great lengths to translate overseas AI textbooks and shared them with executives, demonstrating his deep commitment to the field.

Beyond KAIST, Kim has also contributed to other institutions. In 2019, he donated 3 billion won to Hanyang University, and last year, he gave 25 billion won to Seoul National University for AI research.

A Vision for the Future

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Honorary Chairman Kim reflected on his journey and vision. Having founded Dongwon Industries in 1969 and built the current Dongwon Group through distant-water fisheries and the food industry, he emphasized the changing landscape of global innovation.

“In my youth, I sought South Korea’s future in the world’s vast oceans, but I believe the new future lies in the ocean of data in the AI era,” he said. “The AI research space to be built here will be an outpost for strengthening South Korea’s future competitiveness and a breeding ground for globally recognized AI talent.”

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