SK Telecom Launches Sovereign GPUaaS Cluster 'Haein'

SK Telecom has officially launched Haein, a sovereign GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) cluster leveraging 1,000+ Nvidia B200 GPUs, marking one of the largest AI compute infrastructures in South Korea.

Built within its Gasan AI data center, Haein is central to the country's ambitious “Independent AI Foundation Model” project, backed by ₩200 billion (~$150 million) in government support. Selected by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the project aims to create homegrown AI foundation models — a key element of South Korea’s AI independence strategy. The launch follows the country's enactment of the AI Framework Act (January 2025) and supports the broader “Digital New Deal”, targeting an IT services market of $61.8 billion by 2030.

Key Highlights

• Launched Haein, a sovereign GPUaaS cluster with 1,000+ Nvidia B200 GPUs, making it one of South Korea’s largest AI compute infrastructures
• Selected for Korea’s “Independent AI Foundation Model” project
• Runs on SK Telecom’s Petasus AI Cloud & AI Cloud Manager, enabling flexible GPU allocation for both national commercial AI developers

The Haein cluster was developed in partnership with Penguin Solutions (AIDC) and Supermicro (server procurement), and runs on SKT’s proprietary Petasus AI Cloud and AI Cloud Manager, enabling dynamic GPU allocation and orchestration.

With 736 patents and over 800 research papers, SK Telecom brings deep R&D credentials to this national effort. Haein’s dual-purpose model—powering both government AI infrastructure and commercial AI workloads—mirrors successful sovereign cloud strategies from Europe, India, and the Middle East.

Also Read: FuriosaAI Raises $125M Amid South Korea's Chip Push

While competitors like Dataoorts offer aggressive pricing for GPU compute, SKT’s sovereign positioning, national compliance edge, and government ties are expected to drive uptake among domestic enterprises. The commercial rollout of Haein gives SK Telecom a strategic foothold in Asia’s growing AI stack, positioning it as a central player in sovereign cloud infrastructure.