Naver is gearing up for a major AI infrastructure expansion, planning to increase its Gak Sejong data center capacity by 55 megawatts, more than tripling its current size. The project, in partnership with Nvidia, aims for a 2027 launch and is backed by an ambitious capital raise targeting over 10 trillion won, or roughly $6.8 billion, to fuel the growth.
Building Sovereign AI in South Korea
The push is driven by Naver Cloud, the conglomerate’s cloud computing arm, working closely with Nvidia to develop sovereign AI infrastructure. This move reflects a broader trend in Asia where governments and businesses seek to minimize reliance on foreign cloud providers for handling sensitive AI workloads. The financing includes a 400 billion won (around $300 million) loan supported by South Korea’s Financial Services Commission, allocated specifically to this hyperscale facility.
But 55 megawatts is just the beginning. Naver envisions scaling to gigawatt-level operations, which would be roughly 18 times the planned capacity, aiming to cement its position as a key AI infrastructure player. The partnership also complements other regional AI efforts, including collaborations with SK hynix, a leader in memory chip manufacturing.
Linking AI Ambitions to Crypto Expansion
In a striking strategic move, Naver also secured control of Dunamu, the parent company of Upbit, South Korea’s dominant cryptocurrency exchange, through a $10.3 billion all-stock acquisition finalized in November 2025. This deal places Naver at the intersection of AI, fintech, blockchain technology, and crypto trading, broadening its technological footprint.
Upbit maintains high trading volumes across Asia and Dunamu's portfolio extends into digital asset custody and blockchain development. This acquisition signals Naver’s intent to become a full technology powerhouse, merging AI infrastructure development with the evolving digital asset ecosystem.
