Donghae AI Data Center Receives Building Permit for First 100MW Facility
Donghae City has completed the building permit process for the first-phase 100MW (megawatt, a unit of power demand) data center of its AI data center development project. The city announced on the 2nd that it granted final building approval on the 1st for the 100MW data center—the first project within the total 1.2GW (gigawatt) 'Donghae AI Data Center Campus Development Project' pursued by GS Group—following an application by Donghae AI Campus 3 Co., Ltd. and consultations with relevant departments and agencies covering construction, environment, and urban planning. Prior to the permit, key procedures were completed, including a revision to the industrial complex management master plan and KEPCO's power grid impact assessment.
The permitted data center will be built on a site of approximately 68,000 square meters within the Bungpyeong 2 General Industrial Complex. It will have a total floor area of about 35,000 square meters across two above-ground stories, with supporting infrastructure including a substation, electrical rooms, and emergency generators.
With the building permit complete, the project—previously centered on planning and regulatory approval processes—now shifts to preparation for actual construction. The project developer aims to break ground this year and complete construction in the second half of 2028.
Donghae City plans to verify that construction proceeds properly in accordance with relevant laws and design documents during the construction phase, and to coordinate with related agencies to ensure compliance with permit conditions and agreed matters in areas such as safety, environment, and traffic. Kim Hyun-su, head of Donghae City's Construction Division, said, "This building permit concludes the key administrative procedures for the construction of the AI data center," adding, "We will work closely with relevant agencies to ensure the construction proceeds safely and smoothly, and will take every precaution to protect citizen safety and the surrounding environment."
