The government will begin full-scale operation of an all-of-government comprehensive support task force to back an AI data centre megaproject.

The Ministry of Science and ICT held the task force's first meeting on Monday, chaired by the head of its Artificial Intelligence Policy Office, with related ministries.

The task force is set up as follow-up action after the "Republic of Korea Great Leap Forward National Briefing" held on June 29. Based on cooperation among related ministries including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Financial Services Commission, it will review support measures needed to build and operate AI data centres.

It will discuss measures to secure, in a timely manner, land needed for large-scale AI data centre construction and ways to ensure stable supplies of electricity and water. It will also support efforts to strengthen competitiveness in data centre-related materials, parts and equipment and to attract large-scale financial investment.

The all-of-government comprehensive support task force will operate as a regular consultative body that meets once a month. It will also hold ad hoc issue-review meetings to respond flexibly to pending issues such as difficulties faced by private operators.

The ministry plans to resolve difficulties at AI data centre construction and operation sites through a dedicated support team. It will also form an alliance involving companies on the demand and supply sides of AI data centres to establish a cooperation system among firms.

Kim Kyung-man (김경만), head of the ministry's Artificial Intelligence Policy Office, said, "We will closely review the progress of private investment and, based on a constant communication system among ministries, we will see it through to the end so that the AI data centre megaproject can be implemented without a hitch."