Japan and Korea AI Infrastructure: SoftBank, Sakura, SK — 2026-09-08
Naver and Brookfield Asset Management are advancing plans for a 1GW AI factory in Sejong, South Korea, with an initial $9 billion investment phase. Meanwhile, Japan’s SoftBank saw its stock surge 12% amid retail bond successes and Arm’s optimistic AI outlook, while OpenAI’s Stargate Korea project faces continued delays regarding power and site selection.
Japan and Korea AI Infrastructure: SoftBank, Sakura, SK — 2026-09-08
Top developments
Naver and Brookfield Discuss 1GW "AI Factory" in Sejong
On September 3, 2026, Naver Corp. announced it is in discussions with Brookfield Asset Management to build a massive 1-gigawatt (GW) AI factory in Sejong City. The project, part of Naver’s broader $10 billion infrastructure push, involves an initial phase investment of approximately $9 billion. This move aims to secure domestic compute capacity for large-scale generative AI models, positioning Naver as a key regional player against global hyperscalers.
Stargate Korea Project Faces Power and Funding Hurdles
Nearly a year after the announcement of the Stargate Korea initiative involving OpenAI, Samsung Electronics, and SK Group, the project has stalled. Reports from September 6, 2026, indicate that the partners have yet to finalize site selections, power supply agreements, or funding structures. These delays highlight the logistical and regulatory challenges facing large-scale AI infrastructure projects in South Korea, contrasting with faster progress in other regions.
SoftBank Stock Surges on Retail Bond Success and AI Outlook
SoftBank Corp.’s share price jumped 12% following the successful issuance of a record trillion-yen retail bond and positive outlooks from its subsidiary Arm Holdings. The rally, noted on September 7, 2026, reflects investor confidence in SoftBank’s aggressive AI infrastructure strategy, which includes its "AI Data Center GPU Cloud" launching in October 2026 and ongoing Stargate developments. The company’s market capitalization has reached approximately €175 billion.
Samsung SDS Secures 10 Trillion Won for AI and Robotics
Samsung SDS announced on September 8, 2026, that it has secured 10 trillion won (approx. $7.3 billion) in funding from private equity firm KKR to invest in cloud, AI, robotics, and digital logistics through 2031. CEO Lee Jun-hee stated that strategic investments in AI and robotics will be accelerated, signaling a major shift in Samsung’s IT services arm towards physical AI and enterprise automation.
Local view
In South Korea, media outlets like The Korea Herald and Edaily are focusing heavily on the competitive landscape between Naver and Kakao for government AI contracts, while also tracking the financial maneuvers of conglomerates like SK and Samsung. CBC News highlights the strategic importance of Naver’s partnership with Brookfield as a step toward becoming a "Global Naver," emphasizing the need for sovereign AI capabilities. In Japan, Impress Watch notes that while Japan’s AI data center construction finally accelerated in 2026, it lags behind global peers in scale, with METI events featuring SoftBank and Sony discussing physical AI policies.
Context & numbers
- Japan’s Long-term Goal: The Japanese government aims to attract over 370 trillion yen ($2.3 trillion) in combined public and private investment for AI and data centers by fiscal year 2040.
- Korea’s Initial Capacity: SK Group, GS Group, and Naver plan to invest approximately 550 trillion won in South Korean AI data centers, targeting an initial capacity of 8.4 GW.
- Power Costs: A recent analysis of 15 planned AI data centers in Japan (totaling 1,214.8 MW) estimates annual electricity costs at approximately 179.4 billion yen, with the Tomakomai AI center (SoftBank/IDC Frontier) being the largest consumer.
- GPU Supply Crunch: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated at a recent event that computing supply is struggling to keep up with infinite AI demand, reinforcing the urgency of domestic GPU cloud builds like SoftBank’s upcoming October launch.
On the radar
- SoftBank GPU Cloud Launch: SoftBank Corp. is scheduled to officially launch its "AI Data Center GPU Cloud" powered by Infrinia AI Cloud OS in October 2026, marking a significant entry into the neocloud market.
- KRCDC 2026 Insights: The Korea Cloud & Datacenter Convention held in early September emphasized the "GW era" of Korean data centers, with high-density cooling and power efficiency emerging as critical procurement criteria.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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