IBM is planning to open a SoftLayer cloud data center in South Korea in 2015, according to reports.

In a $1.2 billion program, IBM is building 15 new data centers to add to its own, and those of its SoftLayer acquisition. Korea was not on the list - but IBM's SoftLayer chief apparently announced a new plan to locate there, on a revent visit, sources told ZDNet.

Going to Seoul?
IBM announced its plan to build 15 new data centers in January, adding to the 12 it owned, and 13 which it had acquired with its SoftLayer subsidiary. In the new program, it has already opened or announced sites in London, Hong Kong, Paris and Melbourne, with others planned for Washington DC, Mexico, Toronot and elsewhere.

Korea has not featured on any published list so far, but a top SoftLayer exec just visited IBM's office there and sparked the story, which says the new site will be up and running in the first half of 2015.

The story may well be true as South Korea is increasing in importance, with Microsoft planning a site there, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) operating there too. IBM is reportedly getting more cloud customers in the country, and a local site would certainly help.

We're hoping to hear from IBM with confirmation either way.