SK Hyper 擬於 2026 年底或 2027 年初完成首輪外部融資

SK Hyper, SK Telecom’s artificial intelligence (AI) data center subsidiary, has begun efforts to attract large-scale external investment, targeting its first funding round by the end of 2026 or early 2027.

SK Hyper CEO Jung Suk-geun said in an interview with Bloomberg on Oct. 23 that the company is discussing financing options for AI data center development in South Korea with global technology companies and financial investors.

SK Hyper plans to secure 15 gigawatts (GW) of data center capacity in South Korea by 2035. It aims to begin operating an initial 5GW in phases starting in 2029, with further expansion depending on market demand. Jung estimated the cost of developing the initial 5GW of data center capacity at approximately 462 trillion won ($350 billion).

SK Hyper plans to raise capital from global technology companies and financial investors. The specific investment structure and cost-sharing arrangements remain under discussion. The company aims to complete its first funding round by the end of 2026 or early 2027, followed by additional financing over the subsequent three to four years. Actual investment amounts and the pace of spending will be adjusted according to demand.

Jung also raised the possibility of generating revenue from 2027, two years before the targeted start of operations at the first-phase data centers in 2029. However, the company has not disclosed specific revenue-generating businesses or projected revenue figures.

SK Hyper is an AI data center business development company established by SK Telecom in July. It is responsible for securing sites, building substations, attracting customers and commercializing projects. SK Telecom owns 100% of SK Hyper and has committed to investing 750 billion won in the subsidiary by 2030.

SK Telecom previously outlined plans to expand its data center business using external capital. During the company’s second-quarter earnings announcement in August, chief financial officer Park Jong-seok said SK Telecom intended to minimize its direct investment burden while retaining control over large-scale data center projects. The strategy involves investments from strategic partners and project financing.

However, the 15GW development plan remains a long-term business proposal. The company has not disclosed binding investment commitments from external investors or specific financing structures for individual data centers. The pace of future expansion is expected to depend on securing power supplies, development sites and corporate customers, as well as the prospects for recovering investment costs.