South Korea Launches Hangang Supercomputer, Plans Quantum Integration
thequantuminsider.com Nov 3, 2026

South Korea Launches Hangang Supercomputer, Plans Quantum Integration

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

South Korea’s sixth national supercomputer, Hangang, entered full operation on Feb. 2 at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) in Daejeon. Equipped with 8,496 Nvidia GH200 GPUs and 9,936 CPUs, the system delivers theoretical performance 24 times that of its predecessor Nurion, with storage capacity ten times larger and network speed four times higher. Direct liquid‑cooling reduces power‑usage effectiveness to about 1.15, improving energy efficiency. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to link Hangang with a quantum computer by mid‑2027, creating a hybrid platform for accelerated AI‑driven research. Resource allocation will devote 55 % to R&D innovation, 30 % to national strategic projects and 15 % to industrial innovation, with official service beginning Dec. 16 for domestic scientists and firms nationwide.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · By pairing a top‑10 supercomputer with quantum hardware, South Korea aims to leapfrog conventional HPC limits and accelerate breakthroughs in AI and complex simulations.
  • · The hybrid architecture positions the nation to attract high‑value research projects and strengthen its strategic tech sovereignty.