South Korea aims to be AI hub with 'Project Trinity' linking semiconductors, data centers, physical AI

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Presidential Office Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom proposed on Tuesday "Project Trinity" (Trinity) to make South Korea a core hub for the artificial intelligence (AI) supply chain by linking semiconductors, data centers and physical AI into a single circular structure.

Kim, accompanying President Lee Jae-myung on his European tour, introduced the concept in a Facebook post, explaining that semiconductors, data centers and physical AI are not independent industries but are closely connected to form a value chain.

"Semiconductors enable data centers, data centers power physical AI, and physical AI, in turn, creates new data," he wrote. "Once this cycle begins, industries grow not individually but accelerate like a flywheel (virtuous cycle)."

He emphasized that this virtuous cycle structure, when created at a national level, becomes a "national-level AI platform" through Project Trinity.

Kim highlighted that global tech giants are seeking "next hubs" as the United States, China and Taiwan, which have been key pillars of the AI industry supply chain, are facing instability for various reasons.

"South Korea is a rare country with world-class competitiveness in computing power, semiconductor supply chains, and the manufacturing capabilities to implement AI in the real world," he explained. "As the global supply chain is being reorganized, South Korea has an opportunity to stand at its center."

Specifically, he suggested focusing on building large-scale AI data centers (AIDC) while Korean companies already form a pillar of the semiconductor supply chain.

He stressed that not only can semiconductors and data centers create synergy, but AIDC itself can create a new industrial ecosystem, lead global standards and preempt overseas markets.

"It is advantageous for AIDC to be built in non-metropolitan areas where electricity is abundant or close to power generation facilities," he wrote. "The more they are built in non-metropolitan areas, the more they help alleviate concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area and plant advanced infrastructure in the regions."

Regarding physical AI, he noted, "The fact that we have industrial sites where robots can be operated and trained on a large scale is Korea's differentiating factor." He predicted that "manufacturing competitiveness built in the semiconductor era can become a weapon in the physical AI era as well."

"Semiconductors are already a strength of South Korea, AI data centers are emerging infrastructure that can be secured now, and physical AI is the future that must be preempted without delay," he emphasized.

In a briefing in Rome on Tuesday, Kim said, "We are discussing related policies with various ministries to create a 'Republic of Korea that cannot be replaced,' as mentioned by President Lee." He added, "This post was written to encourage each ministry to think about connecting their plans when envisioning landmark projects."

However, he added, "It was presented as a conceptual framework rather than a specific project in mind."