BUSAN < invest Korea

According to Newsis,

[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Lee Joo-young = Kakao is establishing an artificial intelligence (AI) hub for the Southeastern region of South Korea in Busan, aimed at interconnecting AI talent, startups, and established enterprises. Beyond training AI professionals and supporting startup creation, Kakao plans to launch initiatives that apply AI solutions to Busan's core industries, including port operations, logistics, tourism, and manufacturing.

According to Kakao on the 27th, "Kakao AI Dot" is constructing the "Kakao AI Dot Center" in Asti Busan near Busan Station in Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan. The project aims for completion within the year.

Asti Busan is a startup support space located right by the Busan Station plaza, equipped with meeting rooms, training facilities, and networking venues. Kakao plans to combine its technology and business infrastructure with the research and educational capabilities of South Korea's four major science and technology institutes (KAIST, GIST, DGIST, and UNIST) to support regional AI talent development, startup creation, joint research, and technology commercialization.

Kakao selected Busan as its first AI innovation hub to leverage the Southeastern region's industrial foundation, talent pool, and technology verification environment. By using Busan as a base to connect local enterprises, science institutes, and AI startups, Kakao envisions expanding its scope of collaboration to drive the regional industry's AI transformation (AX).

The center will feature workspace and collaboration areas where entrepreneurs and researchers can conduct individual tasks or joint projects. It will also be equipped with remote conferencing and online content streaming gear, designed flexibly to accommodate various programs such as mentoring sessions and seminars. A dedicated area will showcase Kakao's AI technologies alongside research achievements from the four science and technology institutes.

The hub plans to operate continuous talent and startup development programs, including startup boot camps, joint AX research, Proofs of Concept (PoC), demo days, and technical mentoring.

It will also drive collaborative AX projects with regional companies by identifying industry challenges across Busan's main sectors—such as ports, logistics, tourism, and manufacturing—and applying the deep-tech capabilities of the science institutes along with Kakao's AI technologies. This approach seeks to assist existing enterprises in their AI transition while uncovering new business and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Over the long term, Kakao aims to foster the AI Dot Center into a permanent hub connecting AI education, research, and startup ventures in Busan. The ultimate objective is to build a self-sustaining ecosystem where locally nurtured talent launches startups that, in turn, facilitate the digital and AI transformation of local industries.

◎ NEWSIS, zoo@newsis.com



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Source Text

Source: Newsis (September 27, 2026)

** This article was translated from Korean.