South Korea's National AI Strategy Committee said on Monday it held a policy seminar on the Special Act on the Promotion of the AI Data Center (DC) Industry with related agencies including the Presidential Committee for Balanced National Development, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment.

The seminar was arranged ahead of the special act taking effect in March 2027. It shared key items such as one-stop processing of licences and permits and designation of AIDC special zones. It also conducted a preliminary review of the direction for drafting an enforcement decree and how to run the committee’s authority to deliberate and vote.

The Ministry of Science and ICT explained key provisions of the special act and the direction and timetable for drafting the enforcement decree. It cited one-stop processing of licences and permits for building data centres, exemptions from power grid impact assessments outside the Seoul metropolitan area, and designation of AIDC special zones. It said it would consult with the committee and related ministries so that industry and local demand can be reflected in drafting the decree.

Under the special act, one-stop processing of licences and permits, designation, change and removal of AIDC special zones outside the Seoul metropolitan area, and cost support for companies moving into the zones must go through the committee’s deliberation and vote. The National AI Strategy Committee plans to detail review procedures, review standards and operating methods with related ministries before the law takes effect.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment explained how it would implement key tasks included in a memorandum of understanding it signed with the Ministry of Science and ICT on May 12, including renewable energy power purchase agreements, or PPA, and exemptions from power grid impact assessments outside the Seoul metropolitan area. Participants agreed that advance coordination among ministries is important because expanding AIDCs is closely linked to power supply and demand, use of renewable energy and regional siting policy.

Song Sang-hoon (송상훈), head of the support group at the AI strategy committee, said, "With the implementation of the AIDC special act as an opportunity, we will provide support so that the creation of special zones outside the Seoul metropolitan area, improvements to regulations related to power and siting, and the expansion of AI infrastructure linked to regional industries proceed without disruption."