Naver and Coupang Rejoin GPU Supply Project Amid Profit Concerns
Naver Cloud and Coupang have re-entered a government GPU supply initiative aimed at demonstrating their large-scale operational capabilities. This project, supported by 2.0805 trillion won, emphasizes GPU infrastructure operational competence rather than mere equipment procurement.
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Naver Cloud, Coupang, KT Cloud, Samsung SDS, and Elice Group applied for the Ministry of Science and ICT's 2026 GPU infrastructure project by April 13. The initiative, with government funding of about 2.0805 trillion won, aims to secure approximately 10,000 GPUs.
The government is focusing on evaluating actual GPU and infrastructure operational capabilities, including deployable data center space, which requires specific high-density setups. Naver Cloud has signed a lease agreement worth 600 billion won for data center space, while Coupang operates advanced facilities in Seoul.
The project is viewed as an opportunity for Naver and Coupang to strengthen their GPU-as-a-Service credentials, unlike Kakao and NHN Cloud, which opted not to apply due to limited GPU business investments. The outcome of the selection process remains uncertain, with emphasis on experience in operating large-scale GPU clusters.
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