Photo: Proposed development by Hyundai Motors in Saemangeum. Credit: Saemangeum Development Agency.
On February 27, Hyundai Motors Group 현대차그룹 announced that it would invest up to KRW 9t (USD 6b) for a new “Robot, Hydrogen and AI City” in Saemangeum 새만금, an area of reclaimed land near Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do Province 전라북도 군산. The new industrial complex will feature a solar power plant, AI data center, and factories to produce humanoid robots and hydrogen fuel cells.
The Saemangeum reclamation project, which began in 1991, filled an area of shallow seabed over 18 years to create approximately 291 square kilometers of new land, equivalent to five Manhattans. Most recently, the area made news because of the Yoon Suk-yeol 윤석열 administration’s disastrous handling of the 2023 World Scout Jamboree. (See previous coverage, “Jamboree from Hell.”) Hyundai’s investment will be the largest investment yet in the reclaimed area.
Hyundai recently made waves with its humanoid robot Atlas, which will be deployed to its factories by 2028. (See previous coverage, “Hyundai Workers Revolt Against Robots.”) As the automobile manufacturer repositioned itself as the leader of “physical AI,” Hyundai’s share price skyrocketed by 127.32% from KRW 296k (USD 199) per share as of December 30, 2025 to KRW 674k (USD 453) per share as of February 27.
