AIDC KOREA

Data Center & IDC Guide | Site Selection, Permits, and Power Applications

Data center development begins with site selection and proceeds through land acquisition, construction, power, telecommunications, water supply, and project scheduling. Select materials and tools appropriate for each required review stage, and make judgments by distinguishing between official verification documents and calculation assumptions.

Start by finding the tasks you need

Multilingual Data Center Terminology Guide · English · 日本語 · 简体中文 · Español

Data Center Terminology, Power Documents, and Company-Specific Guides

Start by checking the definitions of “data center” and “IDC”

A data center is a facility equipped with power, cooling, communications, and security systems to operate servers, storage devices, and network equipment. IDC stands for Internet Data Center. When searching for information using the terms “DATACENTER” or “데이터센타,” be sure to verify the facility’s operator, location, and operational status before making comparisons.

Check the locations and operators of domestic data centers →

AI Data Centers: Power and Cooling Conditions Take Precedence Over GPU Quantity

When evaluating servers for AI computing, document the number of servers along with power consumption per rack, cooling methods, initial IT load, and expansion plans. Since IT equipment load and total facility power consumption are different, you must verify what the MW figure in the comparison data represents.

Data Center Power and Power Reception Capacity Guide →

Data Center Sites and Permitting Procedures

The site comparison table should include the address and title to the land, zoning classification, construction and development status, basis for power supply agreements, telecommunications and water supply, and the desired start date. A permit alone does not guarantee power supply or the commencement of operations. Please review the required documents and the sequence of approvals from relevant agencies for each project site.

Data Center Licensing Procedures and Required Documents →

Data Center Electricity Usage Application and Notice of Scheduled Power Connection

When preparing for electricity use, review the following stages: advance notice, technical review, electricity usage application and contract, facility construction, and power connection. Record the exact names of the documents you have, the issuing agencies, the applied capacity, the desired start date, and the response conditions, and verify any supply conditions that have not yet been finalized.

Preparatory Materials for the Notice of Intended Action and Next Steps →

Preparation of the Power System Impact Assessment Report and the Scope of Work for the Agent

Project owners preparing for the assessment should organize their existing documents—such as business plans, load forecasts, and responses from KEPCO—and review the latest official guidelines for preparing the assessment. When consulting with an agent, document the scope of responsibility regarding eligibility and requirements, the preparation of the assessment report, support for technical reviews, responses to requests for additional information, and submission procedures. Verify the assessment results and the power supply contract as separate pieces of evidence.

Guide to Preparing and Submitting Power System Impact Assessments →

RACK: Compare the number of racks with the available power

A data center rack (RACK) is a frame or cabinet used to house servers and network equipment. Even with the same number of racks, the amount of equipment that can be accommodated varies depending on the power supply per rack and cooling conditions. When comparing data centers, be sure to request information on rack specifications, the size of the equipment to be used, power per rack (in kW), power redundancy, network connectivity, and operational support conditions.

Review of Racks, IT Capacity, and Move-in Date →

Find data on IDC companies, KTIDC, LGIDC, and LGU+IDC

Information found using an operator’s name must be cross-checked against the actual center name, address, and service provider. To request a quote from a provider under the same conditions, first organize the details regarding location, number of racks, power per rack, network connections, start date, and scope of operational support. Do not rely solely on publicly available facility information to determine current available capacity or contract terms.

Comparison based on the data center and operator database →

Verify the scope of contracts for design, evaluation, and construction firms · Review of Data Center Sites Based on Addresses

Consult based on data from my business location

Please provide the project site address, purpose of the review, required capacity, desired start date, and types of documents you have on hand. KakaoTalk consultation hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.

KakaoTalk Consultation · WhatsApp Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions Before You Begin

If I only have the project site address, where should I start my review?

In the free site analysis, enter a street address or lot number to review the land and zoning class, planned gross floor area, number of racks, IT load, and estimated power requirements. Since this analysis combines reference data with calculation assumptions, you should verify the basis for each item before purchasing the site.

Free Address-Based Site Analysis →

What should be verified after identifying potential substation sites?

Please review the sequence of steps: target load, application materials, supply consultation, and verification of the connection system and service entrance design. Even if a nearby substation or the expected route is indicated, the available power supply, timing, and connection method must be confirmed using KEPCO’s official consultation documents.

Power Connection Procedures →

When preparing for data center licensing, what materials should I organize first?

First, organize the project site and its construction and development status, then review the items to be examined and the required documents based on site conditions in the permitting guide. The actual documents to be submitted and the scope of consultation will vary depending on the project plan and the review by the competent authority.

Guide to Preparing for Licensing →

If there is a licensing record, does that mean the data center is currently in operation?

The Licensing Database distinguishes between permits, construction starts, and occupancy permits as separate stages. When determining whether a facility is actually in operation, you must cross-reference the reference date in the administrative records with evidence of operation, such as announcements by the operator.

Records of Permits, Construction Starts, and Occupancy Permits →

What criteria should be considered when comparing various data center candidate sites?

It is easier to compare sites if you organize information on land and permitting status, power supply agreement status, and telecommunications infrastructure in that order. To identify differences between candidate sites, you must record sources and verification dates and distinguish between officially verified values and estimated values based on assumptions.

Guide to Reviewing Data Center Development →

After the free analysis, can I also consult with you about actual data center development projects?

Consulting services coordinate the tasks necessary for site and permitting reviews, preparation for power supply negotiations, project management, and investment and transaction reviews. Based on the current stage of the project site and the available documentation, we outline the required deliverables, the roles of specialized firms, and the scope of consulting services.

Data Center Development and Power Consulting →
Start a consultation · Choose a channel