The hub, a step in hydrogen expansion across the country, will feature the firm’s own PEM electrolyser system powered by on-site renewable resources.

Hyundai has reserved KRW 1 trillion ($693m) for the electrolyser plant alone, scheduled for completion by 2029, and KRW 1.3 trillion ($901m) for supporting solar power infrastructure.

The auto major has not revealed where it intends to supply hydrogen produced by the facility.

Having broken ground in October 2025 on a facility in Ulsan, South Korea, slated to produce 30,000 fuel-cell units alongside PEM electrolysers by 2027, the firm says it is targeting a 1GW domestic capacity in South Korea.

Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai, said the innovation hub will shape Korea’s industrial future, combining AI capabilities and hydrogen systems to establish an advanced ecosystem.

Also planned for the innovation hub is what Hyundai calls an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Hydrogen Smart City.

Set for KRW 400 billion ($277m) investment, the firm says this will feature a localised energy system powered by hydrogen produced on-site  and will deploy AI to integrate a variety of its hydrogen-focused systems.

Hyundai has long held a position in fuel-cell manufacturing for its vehicle applications and started manufacturing its own PEM electrolysers in the early 2020s.

South Korea has become a significant market for green hydrogen, and its Ministry of Trade and Energy wants to use it to generate 3,000–3,500GWh of power annually.