Hyundai Motor Group and Nvidia are planning the development of a "Physical AI and Robot City" in the Saemangeum region of Jeonbuk, South Korea [1, 2].
The project seeks to establish a global center for robotics and artificial intelligence, aiming to drive regional economic growth while positioning the area as a strategic counterpart to Silicon Valley [1, 2].
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined Jeonbuk Governor-elect Lee Won-taek and local officials for a joint ceremony in Seoul titled "Physical AI Special Capital Jeonbuk" [1, 2]. During the event, Chung Eui-sun said the integration of AI and robotics would be part of the Saemangeum project [2].
To support the initiative, Hyundai Motor Group plans an investment of 9 trillion won [1]. This funding is intended to build the infrastructure necessary for a large-scale robotics ecosystem in the province.
Jensen Huang expressed his support for the vision, comparing the potential of the region to the tech hubs of the U.S. "I will call it 'AI Valley', like Silicon Valley in California, USA," Huang said [2].
Local leadership intends to use the investment to reshape the industrial landscape of the region. Governor-elect Lee Won-taek said the administration will build a "robot valley" based on the establishment of robot factories [2].
The collaboration combines Hyundai's manufacturing and robotics capabilities with Nvidia's AI computing power to create a tangible environment where AI is applied to physical machinery, and urban infrastructure [1, 2].
“I will call it 'AI Valley', like Silicon Valley in California, USA”
This partnership signals a shift toward 'Physical AI,' where artificial intelligence moves beyond digital screens and into autonomous hardware and urban planning. By anchoring this in Saemangeum, South Korea is attempting to decentralize its tech economy away from Seoul and create a specialized industrial zone that integrates hardware manufacturing with high-end AI chip architecture.
