KRW 9 trillion investment project in robotics, AI, and hydrogen Financial support agreement signed with KDB and others Exploring external financing, including the National Growth Fund
On the afternoon of the 6th, at the Korea Development Bank in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won (third from left) poses for a commemorative photo with Korea Eximbank President Hwang Ki-yeon (from left), Korea Development Bank Chairman Park Sang-jin, Hyundai Motor Company Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon, IBK Industrial Bank of Korea President Jang Min-young, and Korea Credit Guarantee Fund Chairman Kang Seung-jun during the “Business Agreement Ceremony on Financial Cooperation between Hyundai Motor Group and Policy Finance Institutions related to the Hyundai Motor Group Saemangeum Project.” 2026.4.6 News1
Hyundai Motor Group’s project to invest KRW 9 trillion in the Saemangeum area of Jeollabuk-do to establish hubs for robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and hydrogen energy is gathering pace. On the 6th, Hyundai Motor Group announced that it had signed a “Business Agreement on Financial Support and Cooperation between Hyundai Motor Group and Policy Finance Institutions related to the Saemangeum Project” with Korea Development Bank (KDB), IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, Korea Eximbank, and Korea Credit Guarantee Fund at KDB’s headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon and Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eok-won attended the signing ceremony.
This business agreement is a follow-up measure to the investment agreement Hyundai Motor Group concluded in February this year with the government and Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province. Hyundai Motor Group stated that from this year it will invest KRW 9 trillion in a site of approximately 340,000 pyeong in Saemangeum for robotics, AI, hydrogen energy, a 1GW-class solar power plant, and an AI hydrogen city.
The Saemangeum project will become the first project of the council of policy finance institutions recently formed under the lead of KDB. KDB will support Hyundai Motor Group by advising on financial structures linked to productive finance and climate finance. IBK Industrial Bank of Korea will provide similar support to small and medium-sized as well as mid-sized companies involved in robot and hydrogen parts. Korea Eximbank will offer export-import finance and overseas market information, while Korea Credit Guarantee Fund will provide guarantee support.
Investment execution will proceed sequentially by project from next year. The project is largely divided into five areas: △ AI data center △ robot manufacturing and parts cluster △ water electrolysis plant △ solar power generation △ AI hydrogen city construction. In particular, the AI data center will receive the largest investment, at KRW 5.8 trillion.
Detailed discussions on funding arrangements are also under way. Vice Chairman Jang said on the day, “The group is securing funds internally and is also considering possible external investment funds such as the Korea Growth Investment Platform as well as corporate funds.”
Choi Won-young
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
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