Microsoft has launched a second data center in Busan, South Korea.

“On September 23, 2024, Microsoft and the city of Busan unveiled the newly constructed Miumsandan data center, the second Microsoft data center in Busan’s International Industrial Logistics City, Gangseo-gu,” the company recently announced.

“This new data center, larger than the first facility completed in 2020, is designed to support AI-powered cloud services across the Asia-Pacific region.”

Attendees of the launch ceremony including Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, National Assembly representative Kim Do-eup, Gangseo District Mayor Jin Gyo-hoon, Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority Director Kim Ki-young, and representatives of state energy provider KEPCO, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE), and the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency.

Alvin Heng, general manager of Microsoft data center operations, APAC, said: “This is a fulfillment of Microsoft’s global commitment to contribute to sustainable future development and to do our best as a responsible neighbor to promote the prosperity and welfare of the local community.”

Microsoft first announced plans to develop a data center site in Busan back in 2014, and it launched in 2020. Specifications of neither the original nor the new facility have been shared.

Microsoft launched two cloud regions in South Korea – the Central region in Seoul and the South region in Busan – in 2017. In 2021, the company added additional Availability Zones in Seoul.

The Busan region is no longer listed on Microsoft’s site. It may be listed as a reserve access region.

Busan Mayor Park Heong Joon added: “Microsoft’s investment aligns with our vision of making Busan a global hub for technology and innovation. We will continue to support initiatives that bring significant economic and technological benefits to the city.”

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/microsoft-launches-second-data-center-in-busan-south-korea/