Japan and Korea AI Infrastructure: SoftBank, Sakura, SK — 2026-09-18
SoftBank Group secured an upsized $11.9 billion loan to fund its OpenAI investments, coinciding with a sharp 11% drop in its share price amid broader market concerns over AI development pacing. In South Korea, KT Cloud announced an ambitious plan to add 1 gigawatt of AI data center capacity by 2031, while Samsung SDS received a significant stock target upgrade driven by its AI data center competitiveness.
Japan and Korea AI Infrastructure: SoftBank, Sakura, SK — 2026-09-18
SoftBank secures $11.9 billion loan for OpenAI funding
On September 14, it was reported that SoftBank Group secured an $11.87 billion loan to support its investment in OpenAI, an amount upsized from its earlier $10 billion target. This financing move underscores the massive capital requirements for SoftBank’s involvement in the global AI infrastructure race, particularly its ties to the Stargate project. However, the news coincided with market volatility; SoftBank shares plunged 11% around September 13-14 following reports that major AI players are calling for a slowdown in the development pace of frontier models.
KT Cloud plans 1GW AI data center expansion
KT Cloud unveiled a strategic plan on September 15 to add 1 gigawatt (GW) of AI data center capacity within the next five years, targeting completion by 2031. The company has already confirmed 200 megawatts (MW) of this capacity to be ready by 2029. This aggressive expansion positions KT Cloud as a significant regional player in sovereign AI infrastructure, aiming to meet the surging demand for GPU compute in Korea.
Samsung SDS upgraded on AI data center competitiveness
Mirae Asset Securities raised its price target for Samsung SDS from 260,000 KRW to 300,000 KRW on September 17, citing the company's "unrivaled" competitiveness in the domestic AI data center market. Analysts highlighted Samsung SDS's high demand visibility among local AI data center operators, noting that its ability to secure long-term contracts and integrate cooling and power technologies provides a distinct advantage over traditional construction-focused competitors.
Korean power equipment makers eye US grid strain
As US data center growth strains local power grids, Korean manufacturers of power equipment are seeing increased export opportunities. Seoul Economic Daily reported on September 14 that Korea’s share of US transformer imports has reached 17.3%, driven by the critical need for reliable grid infrastructure to support AI clusters. This trend highlights the secondary infrastructure benefits accruing to Korean industrial firms from the global AI buildout.
Local view
Korean Media Focus on Infrastructure Profitability Local Korean outlets like Blockmedia and Newstopkorea are analyzing the financial viability of AI data centers beyond just power acquisition. A recent report by BitPlanet Research Lab emphasized that securing power and demand alone does not guarantee profitability; factors like capital structure and lease terms are becoming critical differentiators for domestic operators.
Japanese Media on SoftBank's Debt and Strategy In Japan, Billionaires.africa (covering Asian markets) and international outlets like The Independent noted the rising cost of insuring SoftBank’s debt as Masayoshi Son’s AI ambitions grow. Local commentary suggests that while the "Neocloud" strategy is ambitious, the reliance on external financing and OpenAI's delayed IPO timeline introduces new financial risks for the conglomerate.
Context & numbers
- SoftBank Loan: $11.87 billion upsized loan secured on September 14, 2026.
- KT Cloud Capacity: 1 GW total target by 2031; 200 MW confirmed by 2029.
- Samsung SDS Stock Target: Increased to 300,000 KRW by Mirae Asset Securities.
- Korean Transformer Exports: Korea accounts for 17.3% of US transformer imports, driven by AI data center demand.
- Market Impact: SoftBank shares fell ~11%, and SK Hynix fell >5% during the week due to AI slowdown concerns and oil price inflation fears.
On the radar
- MSIT HPC Center Designations: South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT is scheduled to make final designations for new specialized high-performance computing centers in December 2026, following a review process that includes briefing sessions held in September. These centers will operate for two years starting January 2027.
- OpenAI IPO Delays: Continued uncertainty regarding OpenAI's listing timeline is impacting SoftBank's borrowing costs and investor sentiment, with no IPO expected this year.
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.
Powered by
