- MISIT opens the call for proposals for one month starting July 13.

- The ministry plans to launch a general-purpose AI chatbot and a public AI agent, free of charge and without usage limits, within this year.

- It aims to achieve “one AI agent per citizen” by continuously advancing AI agents after 2027.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that, starting with the “AI for All Project” competition (July 13 – August 11), it will fully proceed with the development of AI services for the public based on Korea’s own AI model.

At a time when AI is becoming an integral part of our daily lives, AI has become an essential capability that all citizens need to learn, just like Hangeul and arithmetic. In addition, it is becoming all the more important to ensure that everyone can use AI as easily and effortlessly as they use a calculator.

Today, approximately two-thirds of Koreans have used AI services, while some 23 million people have used generative AI (according to the 2025 Survey on the Internet Use). Nevertheless, about a third of the population still cannot use AI, and most generative AI users rely on the free versions of AI platforms developed by foreign companies.

* Koreans’ estimated monthly active users (MAU) of major AI chatbot services (Wiseapp‧Retail, as of April 2026): ChatGPT (23.45 million), Gemini (8.45 million), Claude (2.41 million)

As one’s ability to use AI increasingly determines individual competitiveness, ensuring that the AI divide does not lead to social and economic divides has become an urgent task of our time. In addition, there are also concerns that, since the free versions of current foreign AI platforms have usage limits, they may become vulnerable to future policy changes by global big-tech companies, such as subscription fee hikes or service discontinuation.

Against this backdrop, MSIT has decided to launch the “AI for All Project” in earnest, to ensure that all citizens can enjoy AI services built on Korea’s own AI.

The AI for All Project is an initiative in which private companies (two to three companies to be selected) with a proven track record of operating services for the public will take the lead in providing AI services that reflect the needs and preferences of the public. Key highlights of the project are as follows.

First, the selected companies must use domestically developed AI models that meet the criteria for a sovereign foundation model for at least 50% of the service, while also using domestic AI models developed by companies other than themselves for at least 30%.

* However, the limited use of foreign AI models is permitted only where minimally necessary, and government support will not be provided for the portion involving foreign models.

Based on this, MSIT plans to launch a general-purpose AI chatbot service for all citizens within this year, free of charge and without usage limits. In addition, through the “AI for All Project,” it will provide a public AI agent that proactively informs citizens of public services and handles applications on their behalf. At the same time, each company will independently develop and integrate its own specialized services.

AI for All will continue to evolve in line with advances in AI technologies and services. After 2027, MSIT will continue to upgrade AI agents so that, ultimately, all citizens can carry out economic and social activities through their own AI agents. The government also aims to foster a self-sustaining ecosystem in which various added value are created and circulated, thereby contributing to the realization of an “AI Universal Basic Society” where everyone can benefit from AI.

* E.g., (Chatbot) Recommend an itinerary for a one-night, two-day trip → (AI Agent) Make a reservation and payment according to the recommended schedule

** The application requirements stipulate that companies must include plans on how to improve AI agents in their business proposals.

This year, the government will provide 512 advanced GPUs (B200) to companies to support the early launch of AI services. Starting in 2027, it will cover the costs required to provide the service to all citizens through the national budget.

At the same time, companies will also be expected to develop their own revenue models, for example, by utilizing user prompt data collected in the course of providing their services, so that they can continue offering services that meet or exceed a certain standard of performance.

Following a one-month call for proposals, MSIT will conduct document screening and presentation evaluations, with the goal of selecting the AI for All service providers in August. After launching a beta service at the end of September, the ministry plans to roll out the full AI for All services within this year.

“AI for All is more than a simple service,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said. “It is the calculator and computer of the AI era, enabling people to work, learn, and go about their daily lives with AI. It is also a platform that ensures everyone can share fairly in the benefits of the new economic structure that AI will bring about. I ask for the interest and support not only of companies and the government, but of all our citizens, so that we can actively use and improve our own AI together.”

The call for proposals can also be found on the website of the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA, President: Park Yun-kyu, Website: www.nipa.kr).

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Please refer to the attached PDF.