▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on supporting Hyundai Motor Group's investment in the Saemangeum reclaimed land held at Gunsan Saemangeum Convention Center in Gunsan, 180 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Feb. 27, 2026.
▲ President Lee Jae Myung (R) attends a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding on supporting Hyundai Motor Group's investment in the Saemangeum reclaimed land held at the Gunsan Saemangeum Convention Center in Gunsan, about 180 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Feb. 27, 2026, attended by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Lee-Hyundai Motor

(LEAD) Lee vows bold support for Hyundai Motor's investment in Saemangeum reclaimed land

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last two paras)

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, Feb. 27 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday the government will provide bold support for Hyundai Motor Group's plan to invest in the Saemangeum reclaimed land in areas of artificial intelligence (AI), hydrogen and robotics.

Lee made the pledge as Hyundai Motor Group announced plans to invest about 9 trillion won (US$6.26 billion) in phases beginning this year to build an AI data center, robotics factory, parts cluster and hydrogen plants in Saemangeum in Gunsan, about 180 kilometers southwest of Seoul.

The group signed a memorandum of understanding with the transport, industry, agriculture and climate ministries, as well as North Jeolla Province, to provide policy support and infrastructure for robotics, AI and hydrogen energy.

"Hyundai Motor Group's investment will help the Republic of Korea secure global competitiveness in the AI and robotics industries," Lee said during a signing ceremony at Gunsan Saemangeum Convention Center, attended by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung.

Lee said green hydrogen -- produced using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen -- will be supplied to nearby industrial complexes to support the envisioned new industrial ecosystem.

"Based on eco-friendly energy, large-scale robotic manufacturing plants, a parts cluster and an AI data center will take root in Saemangeum," Lee said. "It is expected to completely change the economic map" in the southwestern region.

He said industrial and logistics robots produced at the planned robotics factory will be linked to AI data centers for continuous learning, paving the way for its transformation into a smart city based on cutting-edge technologies.

"With these advanced technologies, Saemangeum will emerge as a 'future city' where robots are widely used in daily life," he added.

Lee pledged strong government backing to ensure the project becomes a flagship example of regional investment, including regulatory easing and administrative support.

"The government will provide even bolder support for companies' bold decisions," he said.

Ahead of the signing ceremony, Lee viewed the AI-powered humanoid robot Atlas, developed by the automotive group's U.S. affiliate Boston Dynamics, along with the next-generation mobile robot platform, an industrial wearable robot and an unmanned firefighting robot, at the venue, Ahn Gwi-ryung, vice presidential spokesperson, said in a written briefing.

Lee thanked Chung for Hyundai's recent donation of the firefighting robot to the National Fire Agency, and Chung responded that the company would improve its capabilities by reflecting feedback from the field, according to Ahn.

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