NVIDIA and Brookfield Back Naver’s Global AI Factory Plan With $10 Billion

 South Korea’s Naver is preparing to make a major leap into the global artificial intelligence infrastructure market.

Naver founder and board chairman Lee Hae-jin said that NVIDIA and global alternative asset manager Brookfield would invest a combined $10 billion, approximately 14.6 trillion won, in connection with Naver’s AI factory expansion.

AI-generated image

Lee announced the plan on July 24 during the AI San Francisco Summit attended by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

Photo: Newsis

The partnership could become a turning point for Naver, helping transform the company from a domestic internet platform into a global AI infrastructure provider.

What Is an AI Factory?

An AI factory is more than a conventional data center.

It combines large clusters of GPUs, high-speed networking, power and cooling infrastructure, cloud platforms and AI software to provide the computing capacity required to train and operate artificial intelligence models.

In simple terms, a traditional factory manufactures physical products, while an AI factory produces intelligence in the form of trained models, digital services and large-scale AI computing.

Demand for this infrastructure is expected to rise as generative AI, robotics, autonomous systems and industrial AI expand worldwide.

Why NVIDIA and Brookfield Matter

Each participant brings a different strategic advantage to the project.

NVIDIA provides the GPUs, networking systems and software platforms that power modern AI workloads.

Brookfield has extensive experience investing in data centers, electricity generation, renewable energy and other large-scale infrastructure. These capabilities are particularly important because AI data centers require enormous amounts of capital, land, power and cooling capacity.

Naver contributes its cloud technology and experience in designing and operating large data centers in South Korea.

Together, the three companies could create an integrated model combining AI computing technology, infrastructure capital and cloud operations.

Why Naver Needs Global Capital

For nearly 30 years, Naver has developed and operated its own search, e-commerce, content and cloud services while competing with major American and Chinese technology companies.

The company has also accumulated data center expertise through facilities in Chuncheon and Sejong.

However, expanding a gigawatt-scale AI factory network requires far more capital and global business reach than Naver could easily provide on its own.

The reported $10 billion commitment could help Naver secure financing, infrastructure expertise and access to international customers and partners.

Jensen Huang Supports Naver’s Global Expansion

Photo: Newsis

Lee Hae-jin and other senior Naver executives visited NVIDIA’s headquarters in Santa Clara, California, and met CEO Jensen Huang and his management team.

Huang described Naver as one of South Korea’s leading cloud companies and said NVIDIA intended to support its expansion both within Korea and across international markets.

This suggests that the partnership is not limited to supplying GPUs. It could include broader technical and business cooperation aimed at developing Naver’s global AI factory network.

What Could This Mean for Naver?

If successfully implemented, the project could provide Naver with several long-term advantages:

• Greater access to advanced NVIDIA computing technology
• Large-scale infrastructure financing from Brookfield
• Access to global data center and energy expertise
• New international customers for Naver Cloud
• A stronger position in the sovereign AI market

Sovereign AI refers to the ability of countries and organizations to develop AI systems using their own language, culture, data and infrastructure.

As governments seek alternatives to relying entirely on a small number of American technology platforms, Naver could position itself as an infrastructure and cloud partner for locally controlled AI systems.

Important Questions Remain

Despite the size of the announcement, investors should pay attention to the details that have not yet been fully disclosed.

Public reports have not clearly established whether the entire $10 billion will be invested directly in Naver’s corporate equity, contributed to a separate AI factory project, structured through a joint venture or provided through project financing.

Key issues to watch include:

• The final investment structure
• The funding schedule
• The amount provided by each partner
• Naver’s own capital commitment
• Potential equity dilution
• Customer demand and utilization rates
• The timing of revenue and profit generation

AI infrastructure is highly capital-intensive, and a large investment announcement does not automatically translate into immediate earnings.

Can Naver Become a Global AI Infrastructure Company?

Lee Hae-jin has emphasized that the future of AI should not be controlled by only one or two technology groups.

He argues that different countries, companies and communities need access to AI systems that reflect their own languages, cultures and values.

Naver’s partnership with NVIDIA and Brookfield could support that vision by providing the technology, capital and global network required to build independent AI infrastructure at scale.

The $10 billion plan therefore represents more than a large financial deal. It could mark the beginning of Naver’s transformation from South Korea’s leading internet platform into a meaningful player in the global AI infrastructure market.

The next stage will depend on the final agreement, construction progress, customer acquisition and Naver’s ability to turn massive computing capacity into sustainable revenue.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.