Korea's $6B Green Hub to Create 71,000 Jobs by 2030

South Korea just took a giant leap toward a greener, smarter future.

Hyundai Motor Group signed an agreement with the Korean government to invest nearly $6 billion in Saemangeum, a coastal area in Gunsan City. Starting in 2027, the company will build a sprawling innovation hub that brings together cutting-edge robotics, artificial intelligence, and clean hydrogen technology all in one place.

The project isn't just about technology. It's about people and communities.

The investment is expected to generate more than $11 billion in economic benefits and create approximately 71,000 jobs over the next few years. For a region that has faced economic challenges, this represents a complete transformation.

At the heart of the project sits an AI data center powerful enough to process information for 50,000 computing units. This digital brain will help develop self-driving vehicles and advanced robots that can work alongside humans in factories and daily life.

The hub will also include a robotics manufacturing cluster capable of producing 30,000 robots annually. These aren't science fiction machines but practical tools designed to help people work smarter and safer across multiple industries.

Clean energy powers the entire vision. Hyundai plans to build a hydrogen production plant using renewable electricity and install extensive solar power infrastructure across the site.

The company chose Saemangeum specifically for its abundant sunshine and excellent transportation connections by rail, sea, and air. What was once underutilized land will become Korea's testbed for sustainable living.

Perhaps most exciting is the AI Hydrogen Smart City component. Imagine a community where clean hydrogen fuels buses and cars, robots assist with daily tasks, and AI systems optimize everything from traffic flow to energy use.

The Ripple Effect

This investment represents more than one company's ambition. It's part of Hyundai's commitment to invest $87 billion across Korea through 2030, strengthening the country's position as a global technology leader.

Local automotive suppliers will gain new opportunities to pivot into robotics manufacturing. Students and workers in the region will have access to cutting-edge jobs that didn't exist a decade ago.

The project also demonstrates how major corporations can partner with government to tackle climate change while creating economic opportunity. Clean hydrogen technology developed here could help other regions transition away from fossil fuels.

Construction begins in 2027, with the first facilities operational by 2029. Vice Chair Jaehoon Chang called it a project that will "reshape not just a region, but Korea's industrial future."

Korea is building tomorrow's economy today, and it runs on sunshine and innovation.