POSCO and GS Group announced on the 11th that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) data center projects. The signing ceremony was held at the GS Tower in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the same day. Hong Soon-ki, Vice Chairman of GS Group, Lee Hee-geun, President of POSCO, and approximately 10 other officials from both companies attended the event.
The two companies agreed to cooperate in data center construction and operation, as well as overseas business expansion. Under the agreement, they will combine GS Group’s capabilities in building and operating data centers with POSCO’s steel materials and technology solutions. The plan is to ensure a stable supply of equipment and materials needed for data center construction and to optimize materials and design to reduce construction periods and costs. They are also considering linking high-efficiency steel materials with specialized design and cooling technologies tailored for data centers.
GS Group will oversee the entire process of building and operating AI infrastructure, including project planning, power supply, design and construction (GS Construction), and liquid cooling (GS Caltex). Based on its world-class steel technology and stable material supply capabilities, POSCO will maximize the construction stability and profitability of the projects. The companies will also expand cooperation in overseas markets. Leveraging the overseas business networks of GS Global and POSCO, they plan to identify data center development demand and seek opportunities for supplying materials and equipment. The two companies will form a working-level consultation body to concretize plans for building supply chains, developing technology, and jointly responding to overseas projects.
POSCO is actively expanding its business scope as an "AI Data Center Total Solution Company." In particular, it has decided to pursue the application of the EVI (Early Vendor Involvement) model, which provides customized steel solutions from the initial stage of a project, moving beyond the conventional method of supplying steel after design drawings are finalized. To shorten construction periods and maximize operational efficiency, POSCO plans to apply specialized materials optimized for AI data center architecture and equipment operation, including PosMAC, electromagnetic interference (shielding) materials, and high-efficiency electrical steel sheets.
GS Group is pushing forward with the construction of a large-scale AI data center in the Bukpyeong 2nd General Industrial Complex in Donghae City, Gangwon Province, through its dedicated subsidiary, GS AI Infrastructure. It plans to complete facilities totaling 1.2 gigawatts (GW) in phases starting from 2028 and subsequently secure an additional 1.2 GW, expanding the total capacity to 2.4 GW. In September, the company announced it would invest approximately 1.5 trillion won in the first phase of the project, and in October, it received construction permits for its first 100-megawatt (MW) class data center.
Hong Soon-ki, Vice Chairman of GS Group, stated, "By combining GS Group’s data center development capabilities with POSCO’s competitiveness in steel materials and solutions, we will enhance project competitiveness and uncover new growth opportunities in the global AI infrastructure market."
Lee Hee-geun, President of POSCO, said, "The explosively growing AI data center sector is a key future market that will newly drive global demand for steel and materials," adding, "By combining GS Group’s infrastructure value chain with POSCO’s next-generation steel solution capabilities, we will secure a firm leading position in the global AI data center market."
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