On May 29, LG Uplus announced the opening of a next-generation liquid cooling demo room at its large-scale internet data center (IDC), Pyeongchon 2 Center, located in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. This initiative aims to enhance the cooling efficiency and sustainability of AI data centers (AIDCs) through the validation of new technologies.
The newly established demo room is equipped with advanced cooling infrastructure optimized for high-heat AI server environments. This technology is pivotal for creating a 'Green-AI Data Center,' capable of maximizing energy efficiency while minimizing carbon emissions. By preemptively validating the cooling performance and stability in a high-density AI computational environment, LG Uplus expects to mitigate technical risks associated with GPU performance improvements and large-scale infrastructure expansion. This will allow the company to offer high levels of operational efficiency and reliability to its customers.
The technology demonstration sees collaboration from global leaders in data center liquid cooling, including Vertiv and CoolIT Systems, alongside Korean partners such as LG Electronics and Global Standard Technology (GST). These partners will work together to validate the commercialization potential of the cooling technologies using real operational data, advancing the sophistication of cooling solutions.
The cooling technologies being tested in the demo room include Direct-To-Chip Cooling and Immersion Cooling. Direct-To-Chip Cooling involves circulating coolant through cooling plates attached to servers, while Immersion Cooling submerges servers in tanks filled with insulating oil to dissipate heat. The critical equipment known as the Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) ensures even distribution and retrieval of coolant throughout the servers, optimizing the cooling efficiency and energy usage of the entire system.
Earlier, in March 2025, LG Uplus showcased these liquid cooling technologies at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain. The demo room at the Pyeongchon 2 Center will now serve as an R&D testbed to verify these technologies in a real-world environment.
Leveraging the insights gained from this technology demonstration, LG Uplus plans to fully implement liquid cooling technologies at the Pyeongchon 2 Center, the largest data center in the metropolitan area, and the upcoming Paju AIDC. This strategy is expected to achieve eco-friendliness and economic efficiency by reducing cooling energy consumption, ensuring uninterrupted system operations, lowering operational costs, and enhancing maintenance efficiency.
Additionally, LG Uplus plans to launch AIDC tour programs, including visits to the demo room at the Pyeongchon 2 Center, for industry stakeholders and clients starting in the second half of the year.
Jung Sook-kyung, Head of AIDC Business at LG Uplus, remarked, "With the rising demand for AI and high-performance computing intensifying data center heat challenges, cooling technology is crucial for sustainable AI data center operations. This demonstration of liquid cooling technology marks a turning point for LG Uplus as we lead in building eco-friendly and economical AI infrastructure centered around customer value-driven technological innovation."
