Samsung Group and Hyundai Motor Group announced investment plans totaling 102 trillion won in South Korea's Yeongnam region during a national briefing on advanced industry development. Samsung will invest 60 trillion won while Hyundai Motor will invest 42 trillion won to establish manufacturing hubs for humanoid robots, AI-based autonomous vehicles, and solid-state batteries. Samsung Electronics President Noh Tae-moon stated the investments will create 200,000 jobs. The announcements represent South Korea's industrial shift toward advanced manufacturing in robotics, AI, and next-generation mobility.
Samsung Group Allocates 60 Trillion Won Across Gumi and Ulsan Manufacturing Sites
Samsung Group will invest 19 trillion won in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, to establish a humanoid robot mass production system and AI-centered manufacturing processes through Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDS. Samsung SDI will invest 16 trillion won in Ulsan to establish a solid-state battery mass production base. Samsung Electro-Mechanics will invest 15 trillion won in its Busan facility to expand production lines for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) and packaging substrates targeting AI chip component markets.
Hyundai Motor Group Plans 42 Trillion Won Investment in AI-Based Vehicle Manufacturing
Hyundai Motor Group will establish an AI DV (Data Vehicle) manufacturing hub centered in Ulsan, where onboard AI systems will handle data learning and driving decisions. The group plans to install future vehicle component production facilities in Ulsan, Daegu, and Changwon by 2030. Hyundai Motor's new electric vehicle plant in Ulsan is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of this year, serving as a base for manufacturing AI innovation.
SK Telecom Expands Ulsan AIDC Investment to 140 Trillion Won
SK Telecom announced a total investment plan of 140 trillion won for artificial intelligence data centers (AIDC) in Ulsan. The company is expanding its 100MW-class AI data center under construction at Ulsan Mipo National Industrial Complex to 1GW scale. SK Telecom stated it will establish additional AIDC facilities across the Yeongnam region.
OECD Reports Seoul Housing Affordability Decline from 32% to 7%
According to the OECD's 2026 Korea Economic Report, the proportion of homes in Seoul that median-income households can purchase with equity and standard mortgage loans declined from 32% in 2012 to approximately 7% in 2025. Apartment transaction prices in the Seoul metropolitan area nearly doubled between 2013 and 2026, significantly outpacing wage growth. Seoul's housing supply stood at 94 units per 100 households in 2024, below the national average of 102.5 units. Non-metropolitan areas showed a public rental housing vacancy rate of 5.7%, double the metropolitan rate of 2.8%.
FAQ
What did Samsung and Hyundai Motor announce in the Yeongnam region?
Samsung Group and Hyundai Motor Group announced investment plans totaling 102 trillion won in South Korea's Yeongnam region. Samsung will invest 60 trillion won to establish humanoid robot production in Gumi and solid-state battery manufacturing in Ulsan. Hyundai Motor will invest 42 trillion won to build AI-based autonomous vehicle manufacturing hubs centered in Ulsan.
How many jobs will Samsung's investment create?
Samsung Electronics President Noh Tae-moon stated the investments will create 200,000 jobs in the Yeongnam region.
What is SK Telecom's investment plan in Ulsan?
SK Telecom announced a total investment plan of 140 trillion won for artificial intelligence data centers in Ulsan. The company is expanding its 100MW-class AI data center at Ulsan Mipo National Industrial Complex to 1GW scale and will establish additional AIDC facilities across the Yeongnam region.
