125.2 Trillion Won Mega-Investment! Hyundai Motor Bets on Saemangeum, Betting on AI, Hydrogen, and Robotics

According to industry sources, Hyundai Motor Group is preparing to announce a multi-trillion won investment plan to develop future industries—including artificial intelligence (AI), hydrogen energy, and robotics—in the Saemangeum reclaimed land area of Jeollabuk-do, South Korea.

Sources indicate that Hyundai Motor Group will soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Environment, and the Jeollabuk-do provincial government. The plan involves investing several trillion won in Saemangeum, located in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do.

The Saemangeum region is part of a national development project aiming to reclaim a total area of 409 square kilometers by 2050—roughly two-thirds the size of Seoul.

While specific investment details are still under discussion, insiders reveal that AI, hydrogen energy, and robotics—core pillars of Hyundai’s future growth strategy—are being prioritized as key investment directions.

This investment initiative forms part of Hyundai Motor’s previously announced domestic investment strategy. Last November, the group stated it plans to cumulatively invest 125.2 trillion won (approximately 650 billion RMB) in South Korea by 2030.

The Saemangeum area offers abundant land resources and excellent solar energy conditions, making it highly suitable for powering energy-intensive AI data centers, which have substantial electricity demands.

Furthermore, industry experts note that Hyundai Motor Group is also considering collaborating with the government to increase investments in other regions, thereby promoting local economic revitalization.