Naver opens new data center in Sejong
Naver’s GAK Sejong data center / Courtesy of Naver
SEJONG – Naver opened its second data center, GAK Sejong, in the special self-governing city of Sejong to lead technological innovation and accelerate business expansion centered on AI and cloud computing, according to the company CEO, Monday.
“Hyperscale data centers recently have gained recognition as the core infrastructure for technological innovation, but Naver has been preparing for hyperscale data centers since the opening of GAK Chuncheon 10 years ago,” Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver, said during a press conference at the data center.
GAK Sejong combines Naver’s expertise in cutting-edge technologies, including AI, cloud computing, robotics and autonomous driving, with the know-how gained from operating its first data center GAK Chuncheon in Gangwon Province.
Since its opening in 2013, Naver has operated its first data center without service interruptions, accidents or disasters for a decade. In line with the recent demand for AI-driven high-capacity data processing, the company opened hyperscale data processing-dedicated GAK Sejong.
Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver, speaks during a press conference at the company’s new data center GAK Sejong in the city of Sejong, Monday. Courtesy of Naver
“Naver's ability to release the hyperscale AI platform HyperCLOVA X this year and export technology to Saudi Arabia was made possible by investing in technology in advance,” the CEO said. “Looking ahead to the next 10 years and beyond, GAK Sejong, designed to envision a forward-looking future, will not only be an engine for Naver but also all industries and technological innovation.”
Spanning an area equivalent to 41 football fields (294,000 square meters), GAK Sejong can accommodate up to 600,000 server units, making it the largest data center in Korea for a single company. Naver revealed that GAK Sejong can store data up to 65 exabytes — one exabyte equals around 1 billion gigabytes — which is 6.75 times that of GAK Chuncheon.
Kim Yu-won, CEO of Naver’s cloud computing affiliate Naver Cloud, speaks during a press conference at Naver’s new data center GAK Sejong in the city of Sejong, Monday. Courtesy of Naver
“Naver operates the largest-scale GPU optimized for high computer processing in Korea, especially for large-scale AI,” Kim Yu-won, CEO of Naver’s cloud computing affiliate Naver Cloud, said.
GAK Sejong plans to expand its capacity sixfold through gradual expansions, the Naver Cloud CEO added.
“The currently open space is only one-sixth of the total size. The infrastructure and space are designed for further expansion per technological development and data growth. With the launch of HyperCLOVA X, Naver's cloud and AI business is entering a new phase, and the opening of GAK Sejong today will accelerate its expansion to various industries and countries,” Kim said.
When this reporter stepped inside the server room of the data center, a loud noise became apparent. It was the noise of fans working tirelessly to cool the heat emitting central processing units (CPUs) and graphic processing units (GPUs) busy processing massive amounts of data for AI and high-definition videos.
Employees of Naver’s GAK Sejong data center work in a control room of the facility. Courtesy of Naver
Hub of advanced technologies
To maximize operational efficiency in the vast facility of GAK Sejong, Naver has implemented various technologies, including AI, robotics, autonomous driving and digital twin.
Naver Labs, Naver's R&D subsidiary, developed a robot automation system to manage server assets, with SeRo and GaRo robots tracking and managing the flow of assets in real time within the data center. Additionally, an autonomous shuttle ALT-B connects key points within GAK Sejong.
Roh Sang-min, head of Naver Cloud Data Center, introduced GAK Sejong’s air cooling system, saying it is an environmentally friendly data center, much like GAK Chuncheon, incorporating various natural energy utilization technologies.
Furthermore, GAK Sejong maximizes energy efficiency by reusing the heat generated in the server room for purposes such as central heating, snow and ice melting systems on facility roads and floor heating.
"We have developed and applied a hybrid cooling system that utilizes up to 90 percent of external air,” Roh said. “We have configured the data center to allow cold air to enter the server room quickly, reducing energy consumption."
Roh added that the data center is prepared to ensure service continuity even in the event of power outages or natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires.
"Data center safety gained attention after the (Kakao) data center fire incident in Pangyo last year, and we have been fully prepared for this from GAK Chuncheon. We paid even more attention in the case of GAK Sejong as it designed to be earthquake resistant, similar to nuclear power plants,” he said.