Cloud computing, also on-demand computing, is a Internet-based service that allows companies to borrow shared processing resources and data such as networks, servers, storage devices and applications.

 

Amazon Web Services is stepping up its effort to launch a larger share in Korea's public cloud market. The Amazon Web Services usually consists of multiple data centers linked by a wide area network. 

 

Amazon Web Services recently signed a memorandum with the Busan metropolitan city government to set up a cloud service innovation center in the second-largest city in Korea.

 

This is interpreted as a move to predominate the cloud service market in Korea as the government is expanding the use of cloud for public areas as part of a bid to innovate its operations. 

 

Other IT giants such as Microsoft and IBM are also moving fast to create a bigger foothold in Korea's cloud market. IBM recently dealt with Chinese data center provider 21Vianet to provide its Bluemix Platform as a service to customers in China and the launch of IBM’s first Softlayer data center in India.

 

As the government launched an initiative to expand the application of cloud services, the nation's cloud market is forecast to grow from 500 billion won now to 2 trillion won in 2018.

 

Amazon Web Services recently signed a "Cloud Industry Development Partnership" agreement with the Busan city government. Within the "Global Cloud Data Center Trial Complex" at Mieum in western Busan, AWS plans to set up the cloud service innovation center which will offer education to adults and elementary, middle and high school students alike.