The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) held a National Assembly seminar titled “Developing the Data Center Construction Industry and Supply Strategies in the AI Era” at the main auditorium of the National Assembly Library on August 31. The seminar was co-hosted by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Park Duk-hyum, Chair Yu Eui-dong of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and committee secretaries Bok Ki-wang and Jung Dong-man, with the KICT serving as the organizer.

The seminar was organized to discuss construction industry strategies for expanding data center supply, as well as technological and institutional improvements needed to support the government’s three mega-projects and respond to rapidly growing demand for AI data centers.

KICT Vice President for Research Moon Byeong-sup gave a presentation titled “Transforming the Data Center Construction Industry and Innovating Production Systems in the AI Era.” He emphasized the need to move away from conventional site-based construction methods toward production systems based on standardized design, modular construction, and OSC (Off-Site Construction) to address the high-density and high-heat characteristics of AI data centers.

To respond to increasing demand for AI data centers and their higher infrastructure density, the KICT is pursuing R&D and research planning in key infrastructure technologies, including mechanical systems, cooling, power, design automation, modular construction, and standardization. In particular, the KICT is working to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea’s AI data center construction industry by securing technologies across the entire lifecycle, including modular infrastructure technologies tailored to data center mechanical systems, AI- and BIM-based design, high-efficiency cooling and energy technologies, OSC and modular production technologies, demonstration, and standardization.

Kim Myung-jun, Director General for Technology and Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, participated in the panel discussion and shared the government’s policy direction for fostering AI data centers. Kim stated that the government would develop institutional improvements and support measures covering site selection, infrastructure, design, and construction to facilitate the rapid and reliable development of data centers in response to growing demand for AI infrastructure.

“AI data centers are critical infrastructure supporting the growth of the AI industry, and technological innovation across the construction sector—including design, construction, and mechanical systems—is essential to ensure their rapid deployment and competitiveness,” said KICT President Park Sun-kyu. “The KICT will take the lead in strengthening the competitiveness of K-data center construction technologies and fostering a robust industry ecosystem by comprehensively pursuing core technology development, R&D planning, demonstration, and commercialization.”

KICT President Park Sun-kyu delivers congratulatory remarks.

KICT Vice President for Research Moon Byeong-sup gives a presentation.

Key participants at the National Assembly seminar pose for a group photo.