Domestic and foreign artificial intelligence (AI) companies continue to visit Cheonan City

As Cheonan City takes the lead in attracting the ‘National AI Computing Center,’ it is receiving numerous ‘love calls’ from domestic and foreign companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

Cheonan City announced on the 1st that visits from domestic and foreign AI companies that have submitted letters of intent to participate in the National AI Computing Center project are continuing.

The National AI Computing Center is an infrastructure facility equipped with advanced semiconductors to support the development of AI services and models. It will be established by 2027 with a budget of 2.5 trillion KRW through a special purpose corporation (SPC) formed by the government and private sectors.

AI companies are continuously visiting Cheonan to inquire about Cheonan's location and infrastructure.

These companies are citing the convenience of transportation connecting the Seoul metropolitan area, Gyeongsang region, and Honam region, as well as the operating personnel upon attracting the center, the revitalization and profitability of the AI industry, and excellent accessibility as strengths.

In addition, the establishment of the Chungcheong Metropolitan Autonomous Administration (Chungcheong Megacity), which was launched for the first time in the country, is also considered a factor increasing interest in Cheonan.

This is because, when attracting the National AI Computing Center, it is important to strategically select a location that considers the accessibility of actual users such as companies, research institutes, and universities across the country, rather than a demand source limited to the local area.

A city official said, "Following our expression of intent to participate in the National AI Computing Center public offering project, inquiries and visits from various domestic and international companies are continuing." They added, "The companies seem to have judged Cheonan as the optimal location for the National AI Computing Center, given that Chungcheong has central administrative agencies, defense facilities, over 60 universities, numerous research institutes such as the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, and excellent accessibility to approximately 340 industrial complexes."