2026 Power AI Forum discusses Korea's 'AI Grid' transition roadmap
The 2026 Power AI Forum and Exhibition, held on September 17, 2026, in Seoul, discussed specific implementation roadmaps and strategies for Korea's 'AI Grid' transition.
Our take
Is AI-driven grid management in Korea an investable market yet?
AI-driven grid management in Korea is not yet an investable market, because national R&D tasks are only now being launched and the article reports no budget, timetable or market rule behind them.
The nearest demand is for equipment such as HVDC and grid stabilisation devices, which speakers tied to government grid projects running on schedule. AI data centres as flexible resources become a revenue line only if the R&D tasks lead to market rules that pay for that flexibility.
What the source says
- The 2026 Power AI Forum and Exhibition was held on September 17, 2026, in Seoul COEX.
- Kim Chang-sun Kim Chang-sun stated that 2026 marks the nascent stage of Power AI, with tasks to be launched in national power grid, AI data center flexible resource conversion, and local-production-for-local-consumption distributed power grid areas.
- Jung Won-seok Jung Won-seok highlighted the need to secure AI itself against threats, citing examples like the Ukraine power distribution network blackout attacks.
- Jung Won-seok Jung Won-seok proposed the creation of 'Fail-Safe' functions and kill switches to ensure safe mode transitions when AI controls the power grid.
- Lim Il-hyung Lim Il-hyung diagnosed that electrical energy demand will continuously grow as AI develops.
- Kim Sang-hoon Kim Sang-hoon emphasized that 'Energy Highways' and submarine cables are essential to connect renewable energy from the Jeonnam region to the Seoul Metropolitan Area to meet surging power demand.
- Lee Dong-jun Lee Dong-jun proposed 'immersion cooling ESS' as an innovative cooling system to fundamentally prevent ESS fires by submerging cells in dielectric fluid.
- Lee Dong-jun Lee Dong-jun acknowledged that immersion cooling ESS has a critical drawback of high initial cost, though AI analysis could reduce total cost of ownership.
For investors — Grid equipment investors should track whether government grid projects such as the energy highway from Jeonnam to the Seoul region proceed on schedule, since speakers tied demand for HVDC and submarine cables to that timing.
VPP operators and aggregators should watch whether the national R&D tasks on AI data centres as flexible resources lead to rules that let data-centre load or storage earn from flexibility, and treat it as no revenue until then.
Watch: Further announcements or detailed roadmaps from the Korean government regarding 'AI Grid' R&D, 'Energy Highway' projects, or specific AI security mandates.
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