KT joins government AI project to create fully automated 'dark factories' in Jeonbuk

KT confirmed its role in a government-sponsored initiative to design and construct fully automated "dark factories" that rely on artificial intelligence at every production stage. The project, overseen by the Ministry of Science and ICT, will establish a pilot facility near Jeonbuk Innovation City in North Jeolla Province. Alongside KT, the collaboration brings together KAIST, LG Energy Solution, Harim Foods, Shinsung E&G and the Korea Productivity Center.

KT will supply a modular edge AI data-center system to create and validate synthetic data for virtual simulations and to run AI agents in real-time. The consortium aims to address gaps between simulated training and real-world deployment, and to develop the control infrastructure required for such factories. After laboratory trials, KT intends to pilot the integrated platform at partner manufacturing sites and eventually offer customized physical AI solutions to global markets.