This September w.media is coming to Seoul for the Korea Cloud & Datacenter Convention (KRCDC) 2026, which will take place on September 1, at the Coex. We are bringing together over 1000 senior information technology experts and digital infrastructure professionals, including data center operators, investors, enterprises, technology innovators and policymakers to discuss the roadmap for the next phase of evolution of South Korea’s thriving artificial intelligence and data center sector.
What makes South Korea special?
Each year, w.media hosts KRCDC in Seoul, to showcase and celebrate one of the world’s most exciting digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence markets.
“Over the past three years, South Korea’s live data center capacity has grown at more than 15 percent CAGR through 2025, with demand remaining exceptionally strong as development expands beyond Greater Seoul,” says Teresa Tan, Lead Analyst, DC Byte. “Policy is reinforcing this decentralization and increasingly supporting large-scale AI infrastructure in regional markets. Those ambitions are now beginning to materialize, with a new generation of larger AI campuses moving into construction.”
Prominent homegrown players are increasingly partnering with global giants and private equity players to develop AI factories and even quantum computing infrastructure in South Korea. For example, in July this year, NAVER, Brookfield and NVIDIA announced that they were expanding a sovereign AI infrastructure project from its original planned capacity of 55 MW to 200 MW.
Meanwhile, SK Telecom has announced plans to build AI data center capacity with the potential to scale up to 15 GW to establish South Korea as a large-scale AI infrastructure hub in Asia. For this it has established a full-scale AIDC business structure together with SK Horizon and SK Hyper. While, SK Horizon will be responsible for expanding its infrastructure to a total capacity of 318 MW, encompassing eight data centers already in operation, SK Hyper will focus on business development for new AIDC projects, with 5 GW of capacity targeted for phased opening in 2029 and expansion toward a total capacity of 15 GW in 2035.
It is important to acknowledge that the AI and data center industry is thriving, not just due to the ambitions of the data center owners and operators, but also because the administration is walking the talk on digital infrastructure development.
Recently, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT launched a public-private alliance to coordinate the development of 18.4 GW of artificial intelligence data centers (AIDCs), bringing together government agencies and technology companies as it seeks to expand AI infrastructure and related industries. This AI Data Center Alliance is part of the government’s “three megaprojects” initiative announced in June and follows a plan unveiled last month to designate AIDCs as a national strategic industry.
Look who’s coming to KRCDC!
Check out our stellar line-up of speakers who will participate in panel discussions and deliver keynote speeches during KRCDC 2026.
“KDCEA has been a long-standing partner of W.Media, and as part of an association representing Korea’s data center industry, I see KRCDC as an important platform to strengthen Korea’s global competitiveness and connect with the wider industry,” Harry (Hyun Jin) Hwang, Senior Researcher, Korea Data Center Efficiency Association (KDCEA), who will also serve as Hall Chairman for KRCDC, and deliver a special address. “I also look forward to learning about the latest trends, technologies, and market developments shaping the data center industry, while exchanging views with industry leaders from Korea and abroad.”
Another recurring guest we will have the pleasure of welcoming again is Jun (Youngjun) Kim, Managing Director, Daou Datacenter. “KRCDC brings together the people actually shaping Korea’s data center industry, and that alone makes it worth the time,” he says. “Our market is moving unusually fast right now, with demand running well ahead of the power and land available to serve it, and with edge data centers drawing real interest alongside the AI and liquid cooling conversations that are as pressing here as they are anywhere else in the world. Attending each year is how I keep pace with that shift, and how I gauge where our industry is heading rather than where it has been.” Jun Kim will also participate in a panel discussion on the topic – Beyond the Centralised Cloud: Is Korea Ready for the Edge Data Center Era?
The creme-de-la-creme of South Korea’s digital infrastructure industry are also participating as sponsors at KRCDC. Here they tell us in their own words, what draws them to participate, and what are their expectations.
“As Korea’s data center market rapidly transforms to support next-generation AI workloads and high-density infrastructure, KRCDC serves as a crucial platform for meaningful industry dialogue. I am excited to join fellow leaders to exchange practical insights on liquid cooling, power readiness, and scalable infrastructure strategies that will define the future of our digital ecosystem,” says Jinsung Kim, Director, Solution Engineering, Empyrion Digital, who will participate in a panel discussion on the topic – 100kW Racks and Beyond: Engineering AI Data Centers for Extreme Density. Kim elaborates, “With the rise of 100kW+ rack environments and advanced liquid cooling architectures, the industry is facing unprecedented engineering opportunities and challenges. KRCDC is the ideal venue to address these technical realities with key ecosystem partners, and I look forward to engaging in actionable discussions that help drive sustainable, high-density AI infrastructure in Korea.” Empyrion Digital has been an old friend and supporter of w.media’s conventions, and is renowned for their digital platform’s commitment to sustainability.
A new addition this year has been Karpowership, which operates fleets of floating power plants and offers energy solutions to data centers. “Karpowership is participating in KRCDC because Korea’s accelerating cloud and AI ambitions require the digital and energy sectors to plan together,” says Jad El Sebaaly, Sales and Business Development Director, Asia and Pacific Region, Commercial Operations, Karpowership. “We look forward to engaging with developers, utilities and technology leaders on how our ready-built, fast-to-deploy floating power solutions can provide the reliable and flexible electricity needed to turn data-centre plans into operating capacity.” Sebaaly will also deliver a keynote address on the topic – Powering AI in Weeks: Ready-Built Power Plants for Korea’s Data Center Boom.
Sign up for KRCDC now!
All this and more will be up for discussion at w.media’s Korea Cloud & Datacenter Convention (KRCDC 2026) that will take place on September 1, 2026 at COEX Convention & Exhibition center, Seoul, South Korea. Our team is looking forward to welcoming you.
“We are excited to welcome over 1,000 industry professionals to this year’s Cloud & Data Center Convention Korea, with many traveling from across the region to be part of the discussions,” says Glenda Khoo, Sales Manager, w.media, who is spearheading preparations. “More than just a meeting point, we hope the event serves as a catalyst for meaningful connections and conversations that begin well before we meet in Seoul and continue long after the event concludes — while we continue striving to raise the bar and make each edition better than the last.”
To check out our agenda please click the image below: