Data centers: needed for AI, unwanted next door

Data centers are becoming Korea’s new neighborhood battleground.

The issue resurfaced during last week’s local elections, as several candidates for district mayor and local council seats in the greater Seoul area pledged to review or intervene in ongoing data center projects.

Some of them were elected.

Small-scale data centers planned across Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province have faced growing opposition from residents, with some disputes escalating into legal complaints.

One of the most prom ...