LS ELECTRIC chairman Koo Ja-kyun proposed intelligent direct-current, or DC, grids as a response to electricity demand in the AI era. Koo's vision is to move beyond simply supplying electricity and establish a system that uses data and AI to predict and manage the condition of power infrastructure.
In a keynote address at the 2026 International Conference on Electricity Distribution, or CIRED, Workshop at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul on November 2, Koo said, “For AI data centers, which consume enormous amounts of electricity, to operate reliably, they must be fully supported by a highly reliable power grid.” Koo added, “We must establish a mutually reinforcing system in which advanced AI, in turn, intelligently and efficiently predicts and manages grid operations.”
Koo singled out intelligent DC platforms as a central element of future grids. “We must move beyond one-way electricity transmission and now provide power infrastructure tailored to customers such as data centers by combining direct current and alternating current, or AC,” Koo said. “We must combine data and AI with power equipment to detect early signs of abnormalities and develop an intelligent bidirectional energy platform that flexibly exchanges energy.”
According to LS ELECTRIC, the global power infrastructure market is expected to exceed approximately $150 billion, or about 200 trillion won, in 2030, driven by data center electricity demand. An LS ELECTRIC representative said, “With confidence in our ability to lead the next-generation market, we will use our DC platform technologies to take the lead in meeting rapidly growing demand for AI power infrastructure.”
Original Korean article: Segye Ilbo
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
