OpenAI ponders South Korea data center amid Samsung and SK partnerships

OpenAI is considering building a data center in South Korea while expanding partnerships with major Korean conglomerates like Samsung and SK, according to remarks made during the launch of its Seoul office. The move aligns with South Korea’s push for AI sovereignty and positions OpenAI to tap into the country’s advanced semiconductor ecosystem as it prepares to manufacture its own AI chips.

What you should know: OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon confirmed the company’s openness to Korean infrastructure investments during a September 10 press conference.

• “When it comes to the hardware chip side, I think we have a lot of good partnerships in motion with companies like SK and Samsung,” Kwon said, referencing discussions with Samsung Electronics’ executive chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group’s chairman Chey Tae-won.
• The Seoul office represents OpenAI’s third Asian location, though specific details on scale, timing, or leadership remain undisclosed.
• Kwon noted that leadership announcements are expected “very soon.”

Strategic partnerships expanding: OpenAI has already established collaborations across multiple Korean industries, from electronics to finance.

• In February, the company partnered with Kakao, a major Korean online services company, to integrate ChatGPT into the messaging platform.
• This week, OpenAI will sign a memorandum of understanding with Seoul National University for joint AI research.
• The company is hosting government, academic, and industry leaders to mark the Korean office opening.

The bigger infrastructure picture: OpenAI’s Korean interest comes as the company prepares large-scale production of its own AI chips in partnership with Broadcom, a U.S. semiconductor company, aiming to reduce reliance on Nvidia hardware.

• The chips are expected to be used internally rather than sold externally, according to Financial Times reporting.
• In the U.S., OpenAI is collaborating with SoftBank and Oracle on the massive Stargate initiative, which aims to deliver 4.5 gigawatts of capacity across American data centers.
• The $500 billion Stargate project includes $100 billion earmarked for early phases and represents potentially the largest AI infrastructure buildout to date.

Why this matters: South Korea’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and government backing for AI sovereignty make it an attractive location for OpenAI’s international expansion.

• The timing coincides with OpenAI’s “OpenAI for Countries” initiative, offering formalized infrastructure partnerships with national governments.
• Korean partnerships could provide crucial hardware supply chain advantages as OpenAI scales its chip manufacturing ambitions beyond U.S. borders.