South Korean Deputy Prime Minister: Data center construction should not be slowed by concerns over U.S. AI investment.

South Korea’s deputy prime minister and science minister Bae Kyung-hoon said on Nov. 6 that the country should not halt or delay AI data center construction despite rising concerns over tighter U.S. regulation and slower AI investment after the midterm elections. He warned that China, France and Canada could increase spending if U.S. investment slows, and said that while the AI market may see sharp short-term swings, long-term growth remains intact. Seoul is also studying a frontier AI model 10 to 20 times larger than its existing domestic foundation model program and discussing a national cybersecurity coordination mechanism covering the public, private and military sectors. The stance signals Korea will keep funding AI infrastructure as a strategic priority rather than follow U.S. market sentiment. Watch for details on the scaled-up frontier model budget and the timing of new data center investment.