Microsoft Azure — Korea Central Region (Seoul)

Microsoft Azure Korea Central — the Seoul region — is Microsoft’s primary South Korean cloud and AI infrastructure hub, launched in 2017 alongside the paired Korea South (Busan) region. Operating facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area, it serves South Korea’s advanced semiconductor and technology economy, providing Azure AI services including Azure OpenAI Service with Korean-language support under the Korean Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

The Korea Central region is central to Microsoft’s strategic partnerships with Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Electronics, and SK Group, all of which have deployed Azure AI for semiconductor design automation, automotive AI, manufacturing intelligence, and enterprise AI. Microsoft’s partnership with Samsung for AI infrastructure includes Azure-powered AI acceleration for next-generation chip design.

Microsoft announced a ₩3.3 trillion (approximately $2.5 billion) investment in Korean AI infrastructure for 2024-2025, including data center expansion and AI training programs for 250,000 Korean workers. The Korea Central region operates on the KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) grid, with Microsoft purchasing Korean renewable energy certificates (REC) to meet its 100% renewable energy target. South Korea’s world-leading semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem (TSMC alternative in Samsung and SK Hynix) gives AI inference at Korea Central access to cutting-edge custom AI silicon supply chains.