OpenAI, Samsung SDS and SK Telecom are preparing to start construction of data centres in South Korea in March, Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said at a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday in Seoul.

South Korea said in October that the U.S. startup planned to set up joint ventures with the Korean firms to build two data centres in the country with an initial capacity of 20 megawatts.

SK Telecom told Reuters that it is in talks with OpenAI to build a data centre in southwestern South Korea, with the timing for starting construction still under review.

Samsung SDS declined to comment.