Press Releases

Pilot AI App for Smart Grocery Shopping Launched in Five Regions

2026.09.30

- The price information consultative body was launched, and the pilot app will be further improved before its nationwide rollout in the second half of next year. 【Relevant National Task】 23. Realizing a “Universal Basic AI Society” to enhance public safety and universal quality of life.68. Fostering agriculture as a national strategic industry to safeguard food for the public.The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA, Minister: Song Mi-ryung) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) held a commemorative ceremony at the Cheongju Osong Convention Center (Cheongju OSCO) to mark the launch of the pilot app “Altteulhage Jangboljido,” roughly meaning “Map for Smart Grocery Shopping.” The app provides price information on agricultural and livestock products at nearby stores.The ceremony brought together officials from relevant government ministries, participating retailers, and related organizations including the Korea Mart Association (KMA) and the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations to celebrate both the launch of the price information consultative body* for agricultural and livestock products and the launch of the pilot app in five regions**.* The consultative body consists of MAFRA, the app developer, participating retailers, KMA, and the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations.** Five regions: Suwon in Gyeonggi, Wonju in Gangwon, Cheongju in Chungbuk, Jeonju in Jeonbuk, and Changwon in GyeongnamAfter the ceremony, participants visited the Asan Mart Osong Branch in Cheongju City, where they held an event to promote the app and encourage consumers to download it, along with an event to verify the accuracy of the app’s price information by comparing the prices shown in the app with the actual prices of agricultural and livestock products sold at the store.This newly launched grocery app was developed as part of the MSIT’s “Top 10 AI Livelihood Projects” and provides various practical, consumer-focused services including price information on fresh produce and livestock products at nearby stores, discount information, as well as recipes and shopping recommendations through an AI chatbot, allowing consumers to easily check and compare prices.※ Top 10 AI Livelihood Projects: This initiative aims to spread the benefits of AI innovation by swiftly introducing services in areas where people can experience tangible benefits from AI in their daily lives.“We expect that the launch of the Altteulhage Jangboljido app will greatly reduce the inconvenience of having to visit nearby stores in person to check and compare prices,” MAFRA Minister Song said, adding, “We will use this pilot period to enhance the app’s features as much as possible before the nationwide rollout in the second half of next year, while striving to position Altteulhage Jangboljido as Korea’s representative grocery shopping assistant.”“As a first step in the Top 10 AI Livelihood Projects, the launch of the Altteulhage Jangboljido app marks a significant example of AI creating real value in an area closely connected to people’s daily lives,” Deputy Minister for ICT Policy at MSIT Lee Do-kyu said, adding, “Going forward, we will closely cooperate with MAFRA, other relevant ministries, and the private sector to identify and expand AI services that deliver tangible benefits to people, while actively working to ensure that the benefits of AI technology genuinely improve people’s lives.”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.

MSIT and Central Asia Lay the Foundation for Future AI and S&T Cooperation

2026.09.30

- Korea and five Central Asian countries jointly adopted the “Korea-Central Asia Future AI and Science and Technology Partnership Initiative”.- They plan to strengthen cooperation on AI innovation in public services, AI transformation, and reducing the AI gap.- They also plan to expand cooperation in S&T through personnel exchanges and joint research in climate, space, energy transition, and resource supply chains.【Relevant National Task】 26. Innovating systems to leap into the top five global S&T powerhouses.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced on September 16 that Korea and five Central Asian countries* jointly adopted the “Korea-Central Asia Future AI and Science and Technology Partnership Initiative” at the First Korea-Central Asia Summit to lay the foundation for multilateral cooperation in AI and science and technology.*Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (in alphabetical order)Korea is preparing for the future through bold investments in AI and science and technology. These include the “Three Mega Projects,” which focus on investment in semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers to secure a leading position in the global AI race, and the “Seven SEED Projects,” which aims to foster advanced technologies as future growth engines, recognizing them as seeds of innovation and critical assets for our economy and national security.Central Asia also has a growing national interest in AI and science and technology as it actively pursues industrial diversification in manufacturing and services and the modernization of its infrastructure. In particular, as a resource-rich region with reserves of key minerals such as rare earth elements, Central Asia has high growth potential, a strong commitment to industrial advancement, and a geographical advantage of being located at the heart of Eurasia. Combining the needs and strengths of Korea and Central Asia is expected to create synergies in AI and science and technology cooperation.Against this backdrop, MSIT held the Korea-Central Asia Future AI and Science and Technology Partnership Ministerial Meeting on September 14. During the meeting, MSIT and the ministries responsible for AI and S&T in the five Central Asian countries adopted the “Korea-Central Asia Future AI and Science and Technology Partnership Initiative (AI and S&T Initiative),” reaching an agreement to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in AI and science and technology.Through the AI and S&T Initiative, Korea and Central Asia jointly recognized that AI and science and technology are the critical drivers of sustainable development and prosperity in both regions and agreed that AI has the potential to realize the “Global AI Basic Society,” where AI helps ensure the basic rights of all individuals. Based on this shared understanding and mutual commitment to cooperation, MSIT and Central Asia plan to strengthen their future partnership in the fields of AI and science and technology.In the AI sector, MSIT and the five Central Asian countries plan to identify collaborative projects to drive AI-based innovation in public services that affect all aspects of people’s lives. They also intend to cooperate on building capacity to accelerate the AI transformation in the industrial and public sectors, addressing the AI gap across society, and creating an AI-enabling environment.Furthermore, in the science and technology sector, both sides plan to focus on areas where they can create synergies, such as future climate technologies, space, energy transition, and the establishment of stable resource supply chains, while nurturing future innovative talent through personnel exchanges and conducting joint research that reflects each country’s needs and circumstances.At the same time, both sides plan to share policies, systems, and best practices to ensure that successful collaborative outcomes in the AI and science and technology sectors lead to further research, technology demonstration, and commercialization so that ultimately economic and industrial value can be created. They also plan to work together to expand their cooperative partnerships to broader sectors including industry and academia.As the first multilateral cooperation initiative in the fields of AI and science and technology adopted between Korea and Central Asia, this AI and S&T Initiative is of great significance in that it lays the groundwork for various innovation stakeholders including those from industry and academia to enter the Central Asian region and pursue concrete cooperation projects with their counterparts.“By adopting the AI and S&T Initiative at the First Korea-Central Asia Summit, we have established a ‘Silk Road of the Future’ that brings together the strengths of Korea and Central Asia,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said. “We will do our utmost to ensure that cooperation between the two regions leads to mutually beneficial growth through innovation in AI and science and technology and the establishment of key supply chains.”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.

Starting in October, the “109 Suicide Prevention Hotline” Will Be Available as an Emergency Number Even When Phone Bills Are Unpaid

2026.09.23

- MSIT, MOHW, and ACRC worked together after public input was received through Cheong Wa Dae social media channels.- Even when outgoing calls are restricted, the suicide prevention hotline will still be available.- Even before the official notice revision, the change will be applied starting in October through consultations with telecommunications companies and phone device manufacturers.【Relevant National Task】14. A government that innovates and communicates with the people□ Going forward, the 109 Suicide Prevention Hotline will remain accessible even when outgoing calls are restricted because of unpaid phone bills due to financial hardship.□ The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon), the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister: Jeong Eun-kyeong), and the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson: Jung Il-yeon) have agreed to designate the 109 Suicide Prevention Hotline (“109”) as an emergency number. This will ensure that individuals in a suicide crisis can reach help even when their mobile service has been suspended, improving access to telecommunications services.This move was prompted by public feedback submitted through Cheong Wa Dae’s social media channels, where citizens reported being unable to call 109 after their mobile services were suspended due to financial hardship.□ Operating 24/7 under the “Act on the Prevention of Suicide and the Creation of a Culture of Respect for Life,” 109 is currently a toll-free service for which the recipient bears the cost. Unlike 112 or 119, however, it was not designated as an emergency number, so it could not be dialed when outgoing calls were restricted due to unpaid bills.Meanwhile, under the “Telecommunications Business Act,” MSIT designates emergency numbers* taking into account requests from government agencies that operate special numbers (such as the Korean National Police Agency for 112 and the National Fire Agency for 119) to maintain social order and protect lives. Accordingly, telecommunications companies must keep these emergency numbers accessible even when a subscriber’s outgoing calls are blocked due to outstanding payments.* In Korea, there are eight emergency numbers: National Security Report & Consultation (111), Police (112), Spy Report (113), School Violence Report & Consultation (117), Cyber Terror Report & Consultation (118), Fire & Rescue (119), Maritime Accident & Crime Report (122), and Smuggling Report (125). Of these, the School Violence Report & Consultation (117) number was designated as an emergency number in 2013 upon request of the Korean National Police Agency.□ After reviewing the current system regarding the use of 109 based on the citizens’ feedback received through Cheong Wa Dae’s social media channels, MSIT, MOHW, and ACRC discussed improvement measures with other related agencies to enable people to still get counselling services even when their phone service is restricted.MSIT determined that 109 meets the “protecting public safety” requirement for designation as an emergency number, and immediately began revising the relevant official notice. In particular, considering that it normally takes about three months to revise the official notice, the ministry began developing the necessary systems in advance after consulting with telecommunications carriers, so that the change can take effect on October 1, even before the revision to the official notice is finalized. The ministry also plans to expedite the notice revision process as fast as possible, including by shortening the advance public notice period from the current 20 days to 10 days. Furthermore, mobile device manufacturers will voluntarily support the effort by adding 109 to the list of emergency numbers on mobile phones, allowing users to connect directly to 109 from the lock screen.In addition, as the ministry responsible for operating 109, MOHW plans to provide the necessary support for operating it as an emergency number.□ These measures are expected to eliminate a blind spot in access to the suicide prevention hotline, ensuring that people whose communication services are restricted due to financial hardship can reach out to 109 at the moment they need crisis counseling.□ Nam Seok, Director General of the Telecommunications Policy Bureau at MSIT, said “As 109 is the number people turn to in their most desperate moments, it meets the criteria for an emergency number.” He also added, “Through swift progress on the notice revision and active cooperation with the telecommunications industry, we will rapidly establish a telecommunications safety net that ensures anyone can access 109 at any time.”□ Lee Sun-young, Director General of the Bureau of Mental Health Policy at MOHW, stated, “With its designation as an emergency number, 109 can help raise awareness of the hotline as an emergency suicide prevention service and strengthen its role as a safety net,” adding, “This will provide practical help to citizens facing a suicide crisis.”□ Oh Jeong-taek, Director General of the Institutional Improvement Bureau at ACRC, emphasized, “Suicide prevention counseling must be available at the very moment when help is needed most.” He added, “This improvement plan is significant because related ministries worked together to swiftly prepare a solution based on public feedback submitted through Cheong Wa Dae.”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.

Selection Result Announced for the Cybersecurity-specialized AI Foundation Model Development Project

2026.09.23

- The NAVER Cloud consortium has been selected for the project. 【Relevant National Tasks】21. Becoming the world’s most AI-literate country23. Realizing a “Universal Basic AI Society” to enhance public safety and universal quality of life.23-4. Establish a robust digital security framework to support the AI eraThe Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) selected the NAVER Cloud consortium as the organization to carry out the “Cybersecurity-specialized AI Foundation Model Development” project after presentation evaluation of the two consortiums who had applied for the call for proposals.During the presentation evaluation, the evaluation committee, comprising external experts from AI and cybersecurity sectors, conducted a comprehensive evaluation of 1) technological capabilities and development experience, 2) excellence and feasibility of development strategies, technologies, and goals, and 3) marketability and impact, based on the project proposals submitted and presentations delivered by each consortium.The NAVER Cloud consortium received high marks for bringing together industry, academic, and research organizations with outstanding technological capabilities and development experience to form a large-scale consortium, as well as for its development strategies and goals involving multiple agents and a harness.MSIT plans to provide the consortium with a total of 256 B200 GPUs over the next 10 months starting in September 2026 (after providing GPUs for the first five months, the ministry will continue supplying the remaining GPUs depending on the results of mid-evaluation).MSIT plans to sign a contract with the NAVER Cloud consortium in September and provide GPUs to begin developing the cybersecurity-specialized AI foundation model. The ministry will also immediately form a working-level consultation group to help produce results as early as possible.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.

MSIT Takes a Great Leap Forward to Make Korea a Globally Irreplaceable Nation through AI and Advanced Technologies

2026.09.16

- MSIT announced a 2027 budget of 29.6 trillion won, the largest-ever budget and a 24.5% increase from 2026.- The ministry plans to make strategic investments centered on the “Three Megaprojects + AI” and the “Seven SEED Projects (future growth engines)” to secure national competitiveness.South Korea’s government approved the budget for fiscal year 2027 at the State Council on Tuesday, September 1. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that a total of 29.6 trillion won has been earmarked for the ministry, a 24.5% increase (5.8 trillion won) from this year’s supplementary budget. As next year’s budget is effectively the first budget proposal led by the current government, with a focus on delivering tangible results under its policy agenda, MSIT has drawn up the largest-ever budget for AI and science and technology to realize Korea’s future potential based on fiscal space secured through intensive expenditure restructuring.MSIT’s core investment areas include 1) accelerating AI transformation, 2) securing Next AI and advanced technologies, and 3) supporting balanced growth based on science and technology and digital innovation. The ministry stated that the budget was drawn up to strongly support the government’s recently announced “Three Megaprojects” and “Seven SEED Projects,” with a focus on ensuring that the policy outcomes are evenly shared across all generations, regions, and segments of society.☞ Details of the 2027 budget can be found from the following pages.Highlights of the MSIT Budget for 2027 Ⅰ. Total Expenditure□ (Total Budget) 29.6476 trillion won, an increase of 5.8272 tn won (24.5%) from 2026ㅇ (R&D) 14.1 tn won (an 18.5% increase from 2026), 36% of the government’s total R&D budget※ (2025) 9.7 tn won → (2026) 11.9 tn won → (2027) 14.1 tn wonㅇ (AI) 9.4 tn won (an 84.3% increase from 2026), 57% of the government’s total AI budget※ (2025) 1.5 tn won → (2026) 5.1 tn won → (2027) 9.4 tn won□ (Expenditure Restructuring) Secured fiscal space for reinvestment by re-prioritizing investments and consolidating or restructuring projects in line with the government’s policy direction.□ Focus Areas for Investment❶ (Grand AI Transformation: 9.4 tn won) Three megaprojects (0.8 tn won), Securing top-tier AI models and related technologies (5.6 tn won), AI service & utilization (1.9 tn won), AI-driven inclusive society (1.2 tn won), etc.❷ (Securing Advanced Technologies: 12.4 tn won) Seven SEED projects (1.3 tn won), National strategic technology development & commercialization (5.6 tn won), Strengthening the R&D innovation ecosystem (5.2 tn won), etc.❸ (Balanced Growth: 0.9 tn won) Regional R&D innovation (0.41 tn won), Addressing social problems (0.10 tn won), Making policy outcomes tangible to citizens (0.34 tn won), etc.Ⅱ. Focus Areas for Investment1. Accelerating AI Transformation (5.0938 tn won → 9. 4211 tn won)1) Fully Implementing the Three Megaprojects (298.1 bn won → 795.6 bn won)ㅇ (AIDC) Fostering upstream and downstream technology and industry ecosystems through demonstration testbeds and package technology development for the localization, demonstration, and export commercialization of key AIDC solutions.- Securing early reference for domestic solutions through 10MW AIDC testbeds. ▪Strengthening the foundation for AI computing resource utilization (DetailsSupporting AI industry growth based on small data centers): (2026) 9.6 bn won → (2027) 19.6 bn wonㅇ (Physical AI) Establishing a system for securing and utilizing high-quality (actual and synthetic) data, and developing general-purpose physical AI foundation models to localize, demonstrate, and expand the use of the platform.- Launching models that can be used in a variety of industrial settings by 2027 and working with Korea Post to demonstrate homegrown physical AI in logistics. ㅇ (Next-generation Semiconductors) Expanding investment in the development of coretechnologies to secure an early lead in the global next-generation semiconductor market that includes ultra-fine and stacked semiconductors, and AI semiconductor.- Applying homegrown AI semiconductors directly to the products and services of Korean companies to validate their potential for early commercialization and secure reference cases. 2. Securing Top-tier AI Models and Related Technologies (2.6146 tn won → 5.5937 tn won)ㅇ (Top-tier Sovereign AI Model) Supporting the public and private sectors with large-scale GPUs (10,000 GPUs), data, and talent to develop sovereign AI models that can compete with top-tier AI models. ㅇ (Next-generation AI Technology Development) Developing ultra-efficient and lightweight AI, on-device technologies, and autonomous agents to overcome the current limitations of AI.- Developing time-series AI technologies for industrial productivity innovation, trustworthy and controllable AI safety technologies aligned with human intentions, and next-generation general-purpose AI technologies.- Developing and demonstrating AI-RAN technologies, a key infrastructure for expanding the adoption of high-performance physical AI, and taking the lead in establishing an intelligent national network. ㅇ (AI Security) Responding to advanced cyber threats, developing security-specialized models and services and systems for detecting AI hacking and enabling autonomous defense, and deploying AI security services for SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Companies). 3) AI Service & Utilization (1.2067 tn won → 1.8611 tn won)ㅇ (AI for All) Supporting all citizens in gaining easy, cost-free access to general-purpose AI chatbots and public AI agents developed using homegrown AI models.- Developing and embedding various specialized services on the AI for All platform, and advancing the platform to enable all citizens to develop and use AI agents tailored to their individual needs. ㅇ (AX) Accelerating regional AX centered on four regional blocks* including Daegyeong, Seonam, Jeonbuk, and Dongnam, while supporting industrial AX in agriculture, healthcare, and energy.* (Regional AX) Daegyeong (bio and robotics), Seonam (mobility and energy), Jeonbuk (AI factory platform), and Dongnam (precision manufacturing)- The government will hire AI developers from the private sector for the full-scale operation of the “National AI Service Innovation Promotion Task Force” to drive innovation in AI-based public services and administration. ㅇ (Science and Technology x AI) Implementing the K-Moonshot Project* and developing foundation models specialized in science and technology such as biotechnology and mathematics to drive AI-based innovation in science and technology.* (K-Moonshot) The project brings together national science and technology and AI resources, including the National AI for Science Research Center (NAIS) and AI Self-driving Lab (SDL), and undertakes mission-oriented R&D projects in 12 areas, including humanoids, materials, and new drugs. 4) AI-driven Inclusive Society (974.4 bn won → 1.1707 tn won)ㅇ (Global AI) Establishing a “Global AI Hub” in Korea in collaboration with major international organizations to tackle global challenges such as climate change and food security, while leading international cooperation.- Establishing AI research hubs in Europe* for joint research in next-generation AI and expanding joint international research on AI and new digital technologies based on the needs of domestic researchers.* Follow-up measures from President Macron’s visit to Korea for the Korea-France Summit in April 2026 and the Korea-France Summit on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in June 2026. ㅇ (AI Talent) Expanding support for AI Universities* to innovate AI education and strengthening AI talent cultivation by establishing AX graduate schools based on industry-academia cooperation.* (AI Universities) (2026) 18 → (2027) 67- Supporting various forms of tailored AI education for early-career researchers, local youth, and others. ㅇ (Strengthening AI Capabilities) Establishing the “AI Growth Ladder for All,” an initiative designed to provide full cycle support from AI education on AI for all citizens to service development and demonstration.- Expanding the operation of the “AI Challenge for All” * to promote AI use among all citizens.* Working to establish new online challenge-format competitions to improve services and solve a variety of public and social issues. 2. Securing Next AI and Advanced Technologies (10.6925 tn won → 12.3770 tn won)1) Seven SEED Projects (861.6 bn won → 1.3439 tn won)ㅇ (Future Energy) Secure technologies for SMRs (Small Modular Reactors), nuclear fusion, and renewable energy at an early stage to address surging power demand driven by AI and achieve carbon neutrality.※ (SMR) Commercializing light-water SMRs in 2035 and starting construction of non-light-water SMRs in the 2030s.(Nuclear Fusion) Producing electricity in the 2030s by developing an “innovative Korea nuclear fusion reactor”.(Renewable Energy) Accelerating the expansion of clean electricity through the commercialization of perovskite tandem cells (efficiency: 35% or higher) and other technologies. ㅇ (Future Frontier Technologies) Securing core technologies in quantum, advanced biotechnology, and space as next-generation frontier technologies beyond the semiconductor and AI era, while fostering emerging industries.- (Quantum) Accelerating the development of a full-stack quantum computer led by Korean companies, research on quantum computing applications, and the industrial integration of R&D outcomes through quantum transformation (QX) based on regional clusters.- (Advanced Biotechnology) Establishing SDL infrastructure operated by AI robots for next-generation drugs, and developing source BCI (Brain-Computer Interface) technologies such as brain-computer interpretation AI.- (Space) Securing core technologies to establish a Korean LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite communication network by 2035. ㅇ (Ecosystem of Advanced Supply Chain) Securing and advancing source nano and materials technologies to address global supply chain issues and lay the foundation for future industries. 2) National Strategic Technology Development & Commercialization (4.8668 tn won → 5.6408 tn won)ㅇ (Source Technologies) Strengthening R&D capabilities to secure source technologies in strategic technology areas such as biotechnology, semiconductors, and nuclear power, while leading global technological paradigm. ㅇ (Government-funded Research Institutes) Shifting the research systems of the government-funded research institutes toward mission-oriented system by continuously expanding strategic research projects (2026: 77 → 2027: 119)- Increasing the share of labor costs covered by government funding* and improving the research environment by introducing performance-based incentives linked to institutional evaluations.* Share of labor costs covered by government funding: (2026) 60.3% → (2027) 70.2% → (2030) 100%** Performance-based incentives linked to institutional evaluations: All employees of government-funded research institutes receiving a Grade A or higher will receive incentives. ㅇ (Commercialization of R&D Results) Promoting deep tech startups based on public research results by expanding opportunities for young researchers to explore entrepreneurship and introducing new training programs for second-time entrepreneurs.* Identifying and supporting startup exploration teams: (2026) 246 teams → (2027) around 300 teams- Introducing investment-based R&D through equity financing (equity acquisition, recovery, and reinvestment), in addition to the existing grant-based approach, to maximize the impact of R&D programs supporting companies (three programs in 2027). 3) Strengthening the R&D Innovation Ecosystem (4.7117 tn won → 5.1636 tn won)ㅇ (Basic Research) Gradually expanding research opportunities for domestic researchers*, while establishing a growth ladder for early-career and regional researchers** and promoting research diversity.*Number of Individual Basic Research: (2025) 11,800 → (2026) 15,300 → (2027) 18,000** Introducing long-term regional research projects (30 bn won) and increasing the budget for basic research (2026: 125.6 bn won → 2027: 226.1 bn won) ㅇ (Science and Technology Talent) Establishing and expanding gifted schools and research-oriented universities, and expanding scholarships for science and engineering students to support the identification and development of outstanding talent.* (Gifted Schools) Establishing new gifted schools affiliated with Korea’s science and technology institutes (Chungbuk and Gwangju) and converting around three existing schools into gifted schools.** Expanding scholarship support with a goal of supporting 10,000 students by 2030 (2026: 2,920 students → 2027: 5,140 students).- Expanding colleges of AI at science and technology institutes (KAIST → all four science and technology institutes) to nurture advanced AI talent and industrial talent, and establishing and operating joint industry-academia AX research centers.- Expanding the selection and support of (leader-level and next-generation) scientists and engineers as national asset.*(National Scientists and Engineers) (2026) 20 leader-level scientists → (2027) 40 leader-level and 200 next-generation scientists. ㅇ (International Cooperation) Strengthening the foundation for international cooperation by pursuing strategic research collaboration with leading countries in science and technology including through the U.S. Genesis Mission, and expanding support to enhance universities’ research security capabilities** Number of universities that applied for and were selected for MSIT’s project to strengthen research security capabilities: (2026) 8 → (2027) 16 3. Supporting Balanced Growth Based on Science, Technology, and Digital Innovation (743.4 bn won → 853.7 bn won)ㅇ (Regional R&D Innovation) Expanding region-driven R&D based on regional industries and capabilities, and strengthening the role of regional hubs of INNOPOLIS and support for corporate R&D centers. ㅇ (Resolving Social Issues) Increasing investment to address social issues closely related to people’s daily lives such as disasters, drugs, cyber threats, and public safety ▪Supporting the field application of disaster response technologies using professional engineers (R&D): (2026) 2.5 bn won → (2027) 5.1 bn won ㅇ (Tangible Results to the Public) Providing public science engagement services* through national and public science museums, and expanding the development and distribution of information and communications devices, such as OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), for vulnerable groups. 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.

Selected Consortiums Announced for AI for All Project

2026.08.31

- Consortiums led by SK Telecom, Kakao, and KT have been selected.- Following the signing of agreements and the launch of beta services, the AI for All services will be rolled out nationwide within this year.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) has selected three consortiums led by SK Telecom (SKT), Kakao, and KT to carry out the “AI for All” project, following written and presentation evaluations of the six consortiums that participated in the call for proposals.The written evaluation assessed technical suitability, including the competitiveness of AI models and services and plans for GPU use and infrastructure operation, to determine whether each consortium was qualified or unqualified. The presentation evaluation, which included video demonstrations of prototypes, comprehensively assessed service convenience and strategies for attracting users, plans for ensuring service quality and safety, and plans for contributing to the AI ecosystem.The selected consortiums received high marks for leveraging their own strengths and characteristics to provide diverse and broad points of contact with the public, and for presenting plans for general-purpose AI chatbot services designed to outperform foreign AI models, a public AI agent that helps the public avoid missing out on government benefits by handling complex application procedures on their behalf, and specialized services differentiated through collaboration with startups.The government will give these three consortiums a total of 512 B200 GPUs this year and plans to provide budgetary support for the costs necessary to deliver these services to the entire population starting in 2027.The lead and participating organizations of the selected consortiums and their service development plans are as follows.※ The scores and ranks of these consortiums will not be disclosed at their request. The SKT consortium plans to develop an agentic AI service that can handle everything from planning to execution to result confirmation with a single request. The service will be accessible not only through apps and the web but also by phone call and text message, allowing elderly users unfamiliar with smartphone apps and digitally underserved groups to use it without installing a separate application. It will also offer high-quality conversational and search capabilities tailored to Korea’s administrative and local living contexts.In addition, the consortium plans to implement an AI agent capable of searching for contact information of stores and government offices that do not provide official APIs and handling calls on users’ behalf. It also plans to provide specialized services in areas closely related to daily life, including health and finance. Furthermore, it plans to expand its agent services through partnerships with not only the organizations participating in the consortium but also a wide range of startups. The Kakao consortium plans to use its messenger, used daily by most Koreans, as a gateway to provide integrated access to a general-purpose chatbot and AI agents. The consortium plans to work with LG U+ to launch a Lite version of its general-purpose AI call service within this year and expand it in phases.In addition, the consortium plans to use its existing PlayMCP platform and the AI Agent Marketplace to enable promising AI companies to directly develop, test, and distribute specialized agents. This approach will allow the consortium to rapidly secure a wide range of specialized agents while also contributing to the domestic AI ecosystem. The consortium also plans to offer specialized services tailored to different stages of life, such as senior care and tax services. The KT consortium plans to develop an AI service that offers integrated support within a single conversational flow, covering everything from information search, comparison, and assessment to the execution and management of public and specialized services.The consortium will place AI entry points throughout user journeys for search, news, and content on the Daum portal and app, as well as in partner channels such as Danawa, Musinsa, and Zigbang, thereby seamlessly connecting user’s search needs with AI chatbots. It will also integrate KT’s communications channels and media platforms (including IPTV) with its AI for All, providing an experience where users can start using AI anywhere in their daily lives. The consortium will also offer specialized services in areas closely tied to daily life such as education and real estate.MSIT plans to sign agreements with the three consortiums in September and officially launch the “AI for All” service within this year, following a beta service phase. To this end, MSIT will immediately form a working-level consultative body with the selected consortiums, while also holding consultations with relevant ministries on matters such as linking public data. In particular, to help “AI for All” establish itself as Korea’s flagship AI service, MSIT and the consortiums will jointly work to enhance public accessibility, strengthen branding, and expand promotional efforts.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.

Score Details of the Phase 2 Evaluation of the “Sovereign AI Foundation Model” Project

2026.09.02

The purpose of the “Sovereign AI Foundation Model” project (the Sovereign AI project) is not to make participating teams simply compete for rankings or to eliminate teams. Rather, the project is intended to help Korea’s AI companies grow beyond competition and drive the qualitative growth and expansion of the domestic AI ecosystem.Accordingly, we have exercised extra caution in determining the scope of disclosure to minimize any unexpected direct or indirect harm that the release of evaluation results could cause to some companies, while also giving balanced consideration to the values of fairness and transparency in the evaluation process and outcomes.However, on Thursday, August 27, Motif Technologies (“Motif”) requested the disclosure of the detailed evaluation results through a statement. As the other elite teams also agreed to the disclosure, we are releasing the detailed scores for the Phase 2 evaluation of the Sovereign AI project.In response to the rapid evolution of AI technologies, the Sovereign AI project revises its AI model development goals every six months (a moving target approach). Accordingly, the criteria and methods for each phase of the evaluation are established through consultations with the elite teams.The criteria and evaluation methods for this Phase 2 were likewise established through several rounds of consultations with the elite teams. The finalized criteria and evaluation methods were formally communicated to the teams before the evaluation and no objections were raised. The evaluation was subsequently conducted on that basis.As detailed evaluation criteria and key scores were previously disclosed through a press release (August 18) and press briefing materials (August 20), we are now additionally releasing the detailed scores.The Phase 2 evaluation was conducted based on the following areas: (1) benchmark evaluation (AAII Benchmark Evaluation and NIA Benchmark Evaluation), (2) expert evaluation, and (3) user evaluation (Evaluation by Professional AI Users and Evaluation by the General Citizens).The AAII (Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index) Benchmark EvaluationThe AAII benchmark evaluation was conducted based on the standards released by Artificial Analysis (AA) at the end of June. AA directly carried out the evaluation and provided the results. As previously announced, the AAII scores were scaled to a maximum of 25 points and reflected in the final scores.※ Ex: AAII score: 60 → Final score after conversion: 15 (=60 × (25/100))Based on the overall results of the AAII benchmark evaluation, Motif ranked 1st with 11.9 points, followed by Upstage in 2nd with 9.4 points, SK Telecom (SKT) in 3rd with 8.8 points, and LG AI Research Institute in 4th with 7.8 points. The NIA (National Information Society Agency) Benchmark EvaluationNIA derived the evaluation results using its benchmark datasets that cover seven areas: mathematics, knowledge, long-text comprehension, safety (including societal safety), reliability, Korean language, and instruction following. The results were then scaled to a maximum of 15 points and reflected in the final scores.※ Ex: NIA benchmark evaluation score: 60 → Final score after conversion: 9 (=60 × (15/100))Based on the overall results of NIA benchmark evaluation, SKT ranked 1st with 13.4 points, followed by Upstage in 2nd with 13.3 points, LG AI Research Institute in 3rd with 12.8 points, and Motif in 4th with 12.7 points. The Expert EvaluationThe expert evaluation was conducted by an evaluation committee composed of external experts (three from industry, five from academia, and two from research institutions). Based on the evaluation materials submitted by the elite teams, the committee conducted a written evaluation over approximately five days, alongside Q&A sessions.The expert evaluation was based on the following criteria: (1) development strategies and technologies (10 points), (2) development outcomes and future plans (10 points), and (3) ripple effects and contribution plans (15 points). In addition, compliance with the minimum requirements for AI sovereignty was also assessed. Each committee member’s score was calculated by adding together the scores for these criteria.※ For each elite team, the evaluation score was calculated by excluding the highest and lowest scores awarded by the committee members and taking the arithmetic mean of the remaining scores.Based on the overall results of the expert evaluation, LG AI Research Institute ranked 1st with 29.5 points, followed by SKT in 2nd with 29.3 points, Upstage in 3rd with 29.1 points, and Motif in 4th with 27.1 points. The Professional AI User EvaluationFor the professional AI user evaluation, 50 AI startup CEOs with expertise and experience in AI and more extensive hands-on experience using AI models across various AI development processes than the general public were selected following conflict-of-interest checks. Of these, 49 participated in the evaluation.The evaluation was conducted based on each team’s AI service website, assessing AI usability and other aspects, with scores ranging from 1 (minimum) to 5 (maximum). The scores from all evaluators were then averaged and scaled to a maximum of 15 points to calculate the final scores.※ Very poor: 1, Poor: 2, Fair: 3, Good: 4, Excellent: 5※ Ex: The average score from the scores awarded by 49 professional users: 3.7 → The final score: 11.1 (=3.7×(15/5))Based on the overall results of the expert evaluation, SKT ranked 1st with 11.6 points, followed by LG AI Research Institute in 2nd with 11.3 points, Upstage in 3rd with 10.8 points, and Motif in 4th with 8.4 points. The General Citizen EvaluationTo ensure that the evaluation was representative of the general citizens, applications were accepted for a sufficient period of time. Quotas were then set by gender and age group based on statistics on Korea’s registered population, and 200 people were randomly selected through the system. Of these, 185 actually participated in the evaluation.※ All of the above participants were confirmed following checks for conflicts of interest with the four elite teams.The general citizen evaluation was also conducted as an absolute evaluation for each elite team, with scores ranging from 1 (minimum) to 5 (maximum). The scores from all evaluators were then averaged and scaled to a maximum of 10 points to calculate the final scores.※ Very poor: 1, Poor: 2, Fair: 3, Good: 4, Excellent: 5※ Ex: The average score calculated from the scores awarded by 185 general citizens: 3.7 → The final score: 7.4 (=3.7×(10/5))Based on the overall results of the general citizen evaluation, LG AI Research Institute ranked 1st with 7.6 points, followed by SKT in 2nd with 7.5 points, Upstage in 3rd with 7.3 points, and Motif in 4th with 5.7 points. As a result of aggregating the scores from the preceding evaluations, SKT ranked 1st with 70.6 points, followed by Upstage in 2nd with 69.9 points, LG AI Research Institute in 3rd with 69.0 points, and Motif in 4th with 65.8 points. Even after the disclosure of the detailed scores, we hope that Korean companies will not be judged simply by their scores or rankings, but will instead build on their strengths and capabilities to make broad contributions to the domestic and global AI ecosystem. We also hope that Korea’s AI ecosystem will continue to develop into a dynamic ecosystem where new and competitive AI companies can continually rise to the challenge.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.

Vice Minister Koo Attends the Launch Ceremony of the IAEA ATLAS

2026.09.28

- Vice Minister Koo Hyuk Chae attends the launch ceremony of the IAEA ATLAS and discusses international standards and cooperation for maritime nuclear energy- Pursuing future growth drivers in maritime nuclear energy, including the development of SMR-powered vessels based on the SEED and K-Moonshot projects 【Relevant National Task】 26-4. Securing technological sovereignty through strategic international cooperation in science and technology Koo Hyuk Chae, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT (“MSIT”; Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon), attended the launch ceremony of ATLAS (Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Washington, D.C., from August 26 (Wednesday) to 27 (Thursday), as the head of the Republic of Korea delegation. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation for the future of maritime nuclear energy and shared Korea’s current state and commitment to cooperation. As tackling climate change and improving energy security have emerged as key priorities for the international community, interest in new technological solutions for achieving carbon neutrality in the international shipping sector has also been growing. Accordingly, alongside advances in next-generation nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs), maritime nuclear applications, including nuclear-powered vessels and floating nuclear power plants, are gaining attention as new solutions for the future of energy and maritime transport. In response to these changes, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched ATLAS to establish a foundation for international cooperation aimed at the safe and responsible use of maritime nuclear energy. ATLAS is an IAEA-led framework for international cooperation, based on collaboration among international organizations in the nuclear and maritime sectors, including the IAEA and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It supports international discussions necessary for the adoption of maritime nuclear energy, including safety, security and safeguards, as well as legal and regulatory frameworks and the development of international standards. At the launch ceremony, member states discussed international standards and directions for cooperation to facilitate the adoption of maritime nuclear energy. Korea has developed its nuclear industry based on its full-cycle experience accumulated throughout the design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants, as well as its nuclear safety regulatory capabilities, while also building up world-class capabilities in the shipbuilding and marine industries. In the field of SMRs, which the government has selected as one of the seven future growth engines under the “SEED” Initiative, the government is pursuing the development of SMR-powered vessels that can contribute to the decarbonization of maritime transportation through the K-Moonshot project. To this end, the government is proceeding step by step with basic design, verification of major equipment, and development of core technologies, with the goal of completing the overall design of SMR-powered vessels and commencing construction by 2035, while also establishing the foundations required for the era of maritime nuclear power, including safety and regulatory frameworks, specialized personnel, and infrastructure. In his keynote speech, Vice Minister Koo introduced Korea’s accumulated experience in the nuclear power, and shipbuilding and marine sectors, as well as the country’s current preparations for maritime nuclear power. He also emphasized the importance of establishing a foundation for international trust and cooperation alongside technological development for the successful utilization of maritime nuclear power. He expressed his commitment to actively participating in international discussions on safety, security, safeguards, and regulatory frameworks, while expanding cooperation with member countries in various areas, including technology, infrastructure, and workforce development. Vice Minister Koo said, “Maritime nuclear power is a field that will open up new possibilities for the energy and maritime transportation of the future,” adding, “Through ATLAS, Korea will work together with the international community to create a safe and responsible future for maritime nuclear power.” 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.

Korea and China Hold the Fifth ICT Strategic Dialogue

2026.09.28

- Korea and China Implement follow-up measures from January summit- Korea and China exchange views on ICT policies as Strategic Dialogue resumes 【Related National Policy Agenda】 26. System Innovation to Make Korea One of the World’s Top Five Science and Technology Powers On Monday, 24 August, 2026, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT) held the fifth ICT Strategic Dialogue in Beijing, where the two sides exchanged views on their respective ICT policies and discussed future cooperation. Following the MOU on Digital Technology Cooperation signed at the Korea-China Summit in January this year, the MSIT and MIIT resumed the dialogue for the first time in eight years, following the fourth meeting held in 2018. Over the past eight years, both countries have emerged as global leaders in digital technology. Against this backdrop, close cooperation between two countries has become increasingly important in seizing shared opportunities and addressing challenges arising from advances in digital technology. The fifth dialogue laid a renewed foundation for future ICT cooperation and policy exchanges between the two countries. Both sides shared their respective policies on promoting next-generation ICT technologies, a key driver of economic and industrial innovation, and reaffirmed the importance of capacity building and international cooperation to further strengthen their leadership in digital technology. They also highlighted the importance of improving digital accessibility and literacy for older adults and people with disabilities, while sharing policies and experiences in addressing the potential adverse effects of advances in digital technology. Korea and China agreed to continue sharing policies and experiences to identify potential areas of cooperation and support the development of comprehensive digital policies in both countries. In the area of radio spectrum, a key foundation for next-generation ICT development, the two sides shared their respective policies and experiences on the efficient use of spectrum and agreed to maintain close communication on spectrum cooperation amid the evolving spectrum environment. Representatives from both countries welcomed the resumption of the Korea-China ICT Cooperation Ministerial Strategic Dialogue, noting that it provided an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding of each other’s ICT policies and exchange views on future policy directions. They also agreed to continue cooperation in the ICT sector through policy dialogue and exchanges. Deputy Prime Minister Bae said, “As global leaders in digital technology, Korea and China need to share their policies and experiences to deepen mutual understanding. As we respond to common challenges arising from advances in digital technology, I look forward to continued communication between our two countries and hope this will lead to the expanded cooperation that benefits both sides.” 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.

Phase 2 Evaluation Results Unveiled for the Sovereign AI Foundation Model Project

2026.08.27

- All four elite teams demonstrated achievements in developing world-class sovereign AI models.- Three elite teams (Upstage, SK Telecom, and LG AI Research Institute) advanced to the next round.【Relevant National Tasks】21. Becoming the world’s most AI-literate countryThe Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA, President: Park Yun-kyu) announced the Phase 2 evaluation results of the “Sovereign AI Foundation Model” project.[Achievements of Phase 2 of the Sovereign AI Foundation Model Project (H1 of 2026)]During the first half of 2026, the elite teams participating in Phase 2 of the “Sovereign AI Foundation Model” project developed globally competitive sovereign AI foundation models despite having relatively limited resources compared to global big tech companies, and released them as open source, thereby demonstrating Korea’s AI competitiveness and its capacity to build an open ecosystem. Company Model (Parameter Scale) Key Features Motif Technologies Motif 3 (314B-A13B) - An agent-specialized AI model that recorded the highest performance among AI models from countries other than the US and China (based on AAII) - Integrates specialized AI capabilities in areas such as coding and agents into a single model Upstage Solar Open2 (250B-A15B) - An AI-model optimized for agents - Capable of processing hundreds of pages of documents or more within a single prompt and running on just two NVIDIA H200 chips, making it particularly cost-efficient SK Telecom A.X K2 (688B-A33B) - Recorded top-tier performance among global open-source models on Korean-language and mathematics benchmarks - Its applications have expanded to various industries including manufacturing, defense, and biotechnology, and the company has begun providing full-scale support to enable AI transformation throughout society LG AI Research Institute K-EXAONE 2.0 (750B-A37B) - Korea’s largest model with 750 billion parameters - Released under the Apache 2.0 license and supporting 10 languages - Achieved a 10% improvement in performance over its predecessor K-EXAONE 1.0 (based on combined benchmarks) Following the five AI models unveiled in Phase 1 at the end of last year, the four AI models recently revealed by the four elite teams participating in Phase 2 were all listed as “Notable AI Models” by Epoch AI, a US-based nonprofit AI research organization. Currently, only three countries (the United States, China, and Korea) have models recognized as Notable AI Models by Epoch AI in 2026. In addition, the four elite teams all scored 31 or higher on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index (AAII), a holistic benchmark of intelligence and performance of global AI models measured and released by Artificial Analysis (AA), a platform specializing in AI model evaluation. The AI models of the elite teams exceeded major AI models from Europe, Canada, and others (e.g., Mistral Medium 3.5 etc.), and one Korean model was included among those scoring above 40, following the US and China.By narrowing the gap in AAII scores* with top-tier AI models and ranking 6th** on the AAII global ranking of open-weight models, Korea has strengthened its position as one of the top three AI powers following the US and China.* The gap with the top-tier models narrowed compared to Phase 1: 19-point gap in Jan 2026 (Score of GPT-5.2: 51, The highest score achieved by a Korean elite team: 32) → 16-point gap in Aug 2026 (Claude Opus 5: 63 vs The highest score achieved by a Korean elite team: 47) ※ Changes in AAII’s evaluation criteria should also be factored in** 1st place: Kimi K3 (Score: 60) → 2nd place: Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B (Score: 58) → 3rd place: GLM 5.2 (Score: 53) → ... → 6th place: The highest score earned by a Korean elite team (Score: 47)Korea also came in third following the US and China in the comparison of the performance of frontier language models by each country (based on AAII).Meanwhile, based on AAII rankings of the highest-scoring model from each AI company worldwide, “Motif 3,” the sovereign AI model developed by Motif Technologies, one of the elite teams, also ranked among the global Top 10.“Solar Open2,” the sovereign AI model developed by Upstage, has a context window — the amount of text it can remember and process at once — of up to 1 million (1M) tokens, equivalent to hundreds of pages of documents or more, securing information processing capacity on par with global top-tier AI models.※ Currently, global top-tier AI models such as Claude Opus 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol all have context windows of 1 million tokens.“A.X K2,” the sovereign AI model developed by SK Telecom, scored at the gold medal level in an evaluation based on the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) problems. The model also achieved a tied top score on the MathArena AIME 2026* leaderboard with 97.1% accuracy, proving its world-class mathematical reasoning capability.* An evaluation based on the problems of the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) for US high school students“K-EXAONE 2.0,” the sovereign AI model developed by LG AI Research Institute, ranked 9th worldwide on the AA-Omniscience Non-Hallucination Rate — an AAII benchmark metric that measures the minimization of AI hallucination* — demonstrating highly reliable AI model performance.* A metric that measures whether an AI model honestly acknowledges not knowing an answer, rather than fabricating a plausible-sounding lie (hallucination), when faced with unfamiliar information. This metric imposes a heavier penalty on the tendency to guess or pretend to know the answer to unfamiliar questions and get it wrong.In addition, Hugging Face, the world’s largest open-source platform, has recognized Korea’s Sovereign AI Foundation Model project as an exemplary case of government-led open-source policy, and proposed extensive cooperation including joint promotional activities with Korea as an “alternative” AI power beyond the US and China. The two sides are currently discussing specific plans for implementation.As such, this is significant in that, through the AI model development competition and evaluations conducted in the first half of this year, Korea has demonstrated both domestically and internationally that its sovereign AI models have secured competitiveness comparable to global top-tier AI models.In addition to the four elite teams, various Korean AI companies including KT, Kakao, Naver, and NC AI continue to deliver meaningful results in their respective fields*. These K-AI companies’ technologies are being widely applied not only to industrial sectors such as semiconductor processes, legal precedent analysis, and new materials development, but also to public sectors including government administrative networks, R&D budget review, and the AI Challenge for All**, demonstrating the capabilities of Korea’s AI industry and broader ecosystem.* (KT) Developed Mi:dm K2.0 Omni Basic, its first omni AI model, in July 2026(Kakao) Unveiled four lightweight on-device foundation models (including Kanana-2-1.3B-base) in July 2026(Naver) Unveiled “HyperCLOVA X SEED 4B,” an omni-modal AI optimized for the military, in June 2026(NC AI) Unveiled “VARCO 3D 2.0,” a 3D generation model in June 2026, and began strengthening its foundation for physical AI **Referred to the series of ten promotional press releases (issued from May to July 2026) on real-world applications of K-AI technologiesThis shows that the Sovereign AI Foundation Model project has enhanced Korea’s AI model development capabilities and competitiveness, and that these achievements are extending beyond the four elite teams to drive the development and adoption of AI models across Korea’s AI ecosystem as a whole, ultimately strengthening, growing, and expanding the capabilities of Korea’s entire AI ecosystem.[Overview of the Phase 2 Evaluation] This Phase 2 evaluation was conducted as a multi-dimensional assessment combining (1) benchmark evaluation (40 points), (2) expert evaluation (35 points), and (3) user evaluation (25 points).Compared to the Phase 1 evaluation (Jan 2026), the Phase 2 evaluation has been further refined and enhanced by (1) introducing highly challenging global benchmarks recognized for their credibility (benchmark evaluation), (2) expanding the assessment to include the application and expansion of AX (AI Transformation) in real-world settings, going beyond AI model development (expert evaluation), and (3) newly introducing a public-participation usability evaluation (user evaluation).The significance of Phase 2 evaluation lies not simply in selecting a smaller number of teams through competition among the elite teams, but in the government’s active design and continuous refinement of the evaluation criteria to encourage the elite teams to: (1) strengthen their capabilities to develop world-class AI models, (2) facilitate the adoption and expansion of their sovereign AI models across real-world applications in Korea’s AI ecosystem, and (3) develop AI models that meet the needs and expectations of the public.This is especially significant because the evaluation criteria were established through extensive consultation with the four elite teams, which are composed of leading AI experts in Korea.[1. The Benchmark Evaluation and Its Outcomes]The benchmark evaluation consisted of the AAII benchmark evaluation (25 points) and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) benchmark evaluation (15 points).The AAII benchmark evaluation was conducted using nine highly challenging benchmarks across four core areas: agents, coding, general, and scientific reasoning. In collaboration with AA, AA itself conducted the benchmark evaluation, enhancing the reliability and fairness of the results.* Benchmark by AAII Area · Agents: GDPval-AA v2, τ3-Banking· Coding: Terminal-Bench v2.1, Scicode· General: AA-LCR, AA-Omniscience· Scientific Reasoning: Humanity’s Last Exam, GPQA Diamond, and CritPtAAII is known for its highly credible benchmarks, which even leading global big tech companies find difficult to score high on. Its benchmarks are updated irregularly to enhance the index’s ability to distinguish between models, while some test questions and answers are kept confidential to minimize benchmark contamination. In addition, AAII incorporates challenging benchmarks that are difficult even for top-tier AI models to achieve high scores on. MSIT introduced this AAII benchmark evaluation to drive the elite teams’ AI model development capabilities toward the global frontier level, while ensuring the credibility of the benchmark evaluation both domestically and internationally.Meanwhile, the NIA benchmark evaluation comprises benchmarks covering not only mathematics, knowledge, long-text comprehension, instruction following, and Korean language, but also safety and reliability. It is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of overall performance.※ Compared to the NIA benchmark used in the Phase 1 evaluation, the instruction-following and Korean language evaluation areas were added to the NIA benchmark for Phase 2.Not all questions and answers in the NIA benchmark are publicly disclosed, significantly reducing the risk of benchmark contamination. While the AAII benchmark focuses on evaluating the general-purpose performance of AI models for global use, the NIA benchmark comprehensively assesses AI model performance in the Korean language and Korean context, as well as safety and reliability. This makes it a meaningful measure of the actual competitiveness of domestic AI models, which can be difficult to assess using only global general-purpose benchmarks.The four elite teams recorded an average score of 22.5 points on the benchmark evaluation (40 points), with a 4.0-point gap between the 1st- and 4th-ranked teams. [2. The Expert Evaluation and Its Outcomes ]The expert evaluation was conducted by an expert committee composed of external AI specialists, which conducted the evaluation over approximately one week based on the materials submitted by the elite teams.※ To facilitate the evaluation, Q&A sessions were held between the expert committee (evaluators) and the elite teams (evaluated teams) alongside the evaluation process.The committee conducted an in-depth evaluation of the elite teams centered on (1) development strategies and technologies (10 points), (2) development outcomes and future plans (10 points), and (3) ripple effects and contribution plans (15 points).The expert committee was composed of 10 members with expertise in areas such as AI algorithms, services, and data, and with no conflicts of interest.Going beyond simply assessing whether sovereignty had been secured, the expert evaluation incorporated “sovereignty and the degree of performance improvement achieved based on it” as an evaluation criterion, allowing teams whose sovereign technologies lead to actual improvements in AI model performance to receive higher scores.In addition, by increasing the weight given to the ripple effects and contribution plans for the domestic and international AI ecosystem, the evaluation went beyond simply assessing the development of high-performance AI models, with a focus on promoting the broader adoption and expansion of AX in real-world settings across Korea.The four elite teams recorded an average score of 28.8 points on the expert evaluation (35 points), with a 2.4-point gap between the 1st- and 4th-ranked teams.[3. The User Evaluation and Its Outcomes]The user evaluation consisted of two components: a professional AI user evaluation (15 points) and a general citizen evaluation (10 points). Together, these two components were used to assess AI models’ usability, among other factors.In the professional AI user evaluation, 49 professional AI users including CEOs of AI startups took part. In the general citizen evaluation, 200 citizens were selected, of whom 185 ultimately participated in the evaluation.The user evaluation was designed to look beyond AI model performance and capture something performance metrics alone can’t show, including how usable and effective real users found each model to be in actual use. This matters because it encourages the elite teams to develop not only high-performing AI models, but also the ability to turn those models into AI services that work well from an end user’s point of view.Building on this goal, and in contrast to the Phase 1 evaluation, the Phase 2 evaluation focused on establishing a more multi-faceted evaluation framework that assesses AI usability not only from the perspective of AI professionals but also from the general public.Prompt guidelines were provided to each evaluation group to support in-depth AI usability evaluation, and the evaluation groups’ assessments were conducted through absolute evaluation, rather than comparative evaluation among the elite teams.The four elite teams recorded an average score of 17.6 points on the user evaluation (25 points), with a 5.0-point gap between the 1st- and 4th-ranked teams.[Phase 2 Evaluation Results]As a result of the Phase 2 evaluation, which combined the results of (1) the benchmark evaluation (40 points), (2) the expert evaluation (35 points), and (3) the user evaluation (25 points), three of the four elite teams — Upstage, SK Telecom, and LG AI Research (in Korean alphabetical order) — advanced to the next round by a narrow margin.According to the expert committee’s evaluation, Upstage was praised for “pursuing integration with the ‘Daum’ portal and the ‘Timely’ platform to enable the public to experience firsthand the outcomes of its development,” and “collaborating with FuriosaAI on NPUs to reduce reliance on foreign hardware (lock-in) and demonstrating the technology through a proof of concept (PoC) in the actual ‘Daum’ service environment, setting a leading example of bringing together Korea’s AI software and hardware ecosystems.”SK Telecom was praised for “securing top-tier performance among the models in the comparison group in mathematical reasoning and the Korean language, and demonstrating a clear competitive edge in usability and practicality with its model actually deployed in large-scale commercial services,” and “demonstrating the applicability and practicality of its model across a range of industries by providing the A.X K1 model for the defense sector, validating a manufacturing-specialized agent, and showcasing applications in the legal and tax fields.”LG AI Research Institute received meaningful comments for “establishing collaboration strategies with international organizations and other global partners to increase its global impact, as well as demonstrating distinctive capabilities in Agentic AI,” and “clearly demonstrating its efforts and related activities toward developing safe and reliable AI, while also taking sustainability into consideration through its focus on securing model reliability and managing risk factors.”Motif Technologies was recognized for its deep technical expertise with comments such as “It developed everything in-house, from the architecture and tokenizer to the optimizer and kernel, eliminating external dependencies,” “Its architectural improvements and training efficiency techniques were successfully applied to the Motif 3 model, achieving strong results in global evaluations,” and “The technical limitations and trial-and-error data generated in the process of applying its sovereign technology stack are also highly valuable as national assets.”In particular, Motif Technologies recorded the world’s best performance on AAII among AI models from countries other than the US and China, demonstrating performance comparable to that of leading global big tech companies in challenging benchmark areas such as agents and coding. Given these meaningful achievements in the development of sovereign AI models, the team is expected to contribute to Korea’s domestic AI ecosystem in various ways going forward.[Takeaways and Plans]The Sovereign AI Foundation Model project not only drove unprecedented, large-scale collaboration among domestic industry, academia, and research institutes, but also recorded meaningful achievements by pooling their capabilities to strengthen Korea’s underlying strength in AI model development and showcasing this both domestically and internationally. Major countries are also assessed to be showing deep interest in Korea’s policy approach.MSIT plans to expand its support of high-performance GPUs (B200) for the elite teams that advanced to the next round (H1 2026: approximately 768 B200 units → H2 2026: approximately 1,000 B200 units), and through this, the elite teams are expected to focus more intensively on developing higher-performing sovereign AI models.※ GPU support trend (B200 basis): H2 2025: about 500 → H1 2026: about 768 → H2 2026: about 1,000Meanwhile, as global competition surrounding AI models intensifies and AI models make notable advances in performance across a wide range of fields, major countries are increasingly moving to position AI models as strategic national security assets, with such efforts becoming increasingly evident and taking concrete shape.Against this backdrop, MSIT also recognizes the need to develop top-tier sovereign AI models and is currently discussing with relevant ministries a new support framework that goes beyond existing approaches. Specific details will be prepared and announced at a later date.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.

[Press Backgrounder] Seven SEED Projects to Harness Advanced Technologies as New Engines of Growth

2026.09.28

- Make bold investments in advanced technologies to explore and lead the future- Secure future clean energy through ➊ small modular reactors (SMRs), ➋ fusion energy and ➌ renewable energy - Advance Next AI and next-generation frontier technologies, including ➍ quantum technology, ➎ space and aviation and ❻ advanced biotechnology - Build ❼ an advanced supply chain ecosystem encompassing critical minerals, materials, components and equipment to underpin Korea’s next great leap forward - Complement the three MEGA projects with Seven SEED projects to make Korea indispensable on the global stage The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, convened a government-wide briefing on the “Seven SEED Projects for Future Growth” at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday, August 12. At the event, private-sector experts offered recommendations on the importance of energy technologies and supply chains and the need to secure advanced technological capabilities. MSIT then unveiled plans for the seven SEED projects under the theme “Advanced Technologies: Engines for Pioneering the Future.” * SEED: Strategic Emerging Engines for Disruptive innovation – Korea’s future growth engines requiring strategic investment to drive disruptive innovation Models of a marine SMR, a quantum computer and a lunar-orbiting satellite were also displayed, demonstrating the government’s commitment to accelerating the development and commercialization of the advanced technologies represented by each SEED project. [ Overview of the Seven SEED Projects ] Amid a rapidly changing technological landscape, maintaining a decisive edge in Korea’s existing flagship industries alone will not be enough to ensure sustainable growth. Recognizing this, the government will begin investing today in the seeds of advanced technologies and foster them over the long term to create new growth engines for Korea over the next 10 to 20 years. The seven SEED projects constitute a national initiative to develop advanced technologies – the seeds of innovation and strategic assets for Korea’s economy and national security – into the countries future growth engines. The projects span three broad areas. The first is future clean energy, which will address both soaring electricity demand driven by the AI revolution and the challenge of achieving carbon neutrality. The second is next-generation frontier technologies, which will push beyond the limits of current human capabilities. The third is advanced supply chains, encompassing critical minerals, materials, components and equipment that will underpin Korea’s next leap forward. Details of the individual projects are as follows. [ Future Clean Energy SEED Projects ] ❶ SMR : Commercialize light-water SMRs by 2035 and begin construction of non-light-water SMRs in the 2030s Small modular reactors (SMRs) are carbon-free energy sources whose components can be manufactured in factories and assembled on-site, making them well suited to meeting growing electricity demand. Beginning in 2027, the public and private sectors will jointly undertake detailed SMR design. The government will also accelerate SMR demonstration by integrating the operation of large-scale facilities and equipment and applying advanced technologies such as digital twins. For non-light water SMRs in particular, the government plans to establish a special-purpose company jointly funded by the public and private sectors from the initial stage of development, with the aim of securing an early lead in the global market. ➋ Fusion Energy : Generate electricity in the 2030s through the development of a Korean innovative fusion reactor Fusion energy, often described as a dream technology or an “artificial sun,” seeks to recreate on Earth the process by which the Sun generates energy, thereby providing a virtually limitless source of power. To shorten the development timeline for fusion reactors, the government will create an AI-powered virtual fusion reactor to automate and optimize reactor design and control. It will also establish infrastructure in Naju for the large-scale demonstration of key fusion reactors components and equipment. ➌ Breakthrough Renewable Energy : Accelerate the expansion of clean power for a fully electrified economy The government will also work to establish technological leadership in next-generation renewable energy. In solar energy, it will accelerate the commercialization of perovskite tandem cells with efficiencies of at least 35 percent and proactively develop space-based solar power technologies for orbital data centers. In wind energy, the government will secure technologies for ultra-large turbines exceeding 20 MW and key floating wind systems. This will strengthen the design and manufacturing capabilities of Korean companies and develop wind energy into a next-generation export industry. [ Next-Generation Frontier SEED Projects ] ➍ Quantum Technology : Secure a homegrown 100-qubit computer by 2029 and achieve world-leading quantum chip manufacturing capabilities by 2035 Quantum technology is both a general-purpose technology capable of overcoming the computational and energy limitations of AI and a strategic asset directly linked to national defense and security. It has the potential to drive innovation across all sectors. The government will focus on securing foundational technologies for the quantum processing unit (QPU), the core of a quantum computer, with the goal of developing a 100-qubit QPU with error-correction capabilities by 2029. Through a grand manufacturing challenge for homegrown quantum computers, Korea companies will also lead the development of a full-stack quantum computer incorporating every essential component – from quantum chips and control systems to operating software. ➎ Space and Aviation : Land on the Moon by 2030 and establish an independent low-Earth-orbit satellite communications network by 2035 Having become the world’s seventh country to explore the Moon, Korea plans to secure independent technological capabilities and lay the foundation for deep-space exploration through a series of missions. These include the launch of a lunar-orbit communications satellite in 2029, Korea’s first privately led lunar lander weighing approximately 700 kilograms in 2030, a space science probe in 2031 and a larger lunar lander weighing approximately 1,800 kilograms in 2032. ➏ Advanced Biotechnolgy : Establish AI-bio infrastructure by 2030 and commercialize brain-computer interface products by 2035 Advanced biotechnology will help overcome the biological limitations of the human body, transforming both our lives and the future industrial landscape. By 2030, the government will establish AI-bio infrastructure, including a cancer-specific Ai model capable of predicting changes in tumor tissue, autonomous laboratories operated by AI and robots, and biofoundries that design and produce biological systems. Using this infrastructure, the government aims to develop blockbuster drugs and enable the mass production of bioplastics, sustainable aviation fuel and other biomanufactured products. [ SEED, Foundation for a Great Leap Forward ] ➐ Critical Minerals and Materials, Components and Equipment : Building an Advanced Supply Chain Ecosystem The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) announced the Strategy for Establishing an Advanced Supply Chain Ecosystem as the seventh SEED project, aimed at overcoming Korea’s dependence on specific countries for critical minerals and materials, components and equipment that underpin the three mega-projects and emerging technologies, and expanding the momentum for a great leap forward in growth. ▲ First, for critical items that must be secured to address supply chain risks, Korea will enhance its domestic processing capabilities by developing refining and smelting technologies and resource recycling, aiming to boost the recycling rate of the top 10 critical minerals to 20% by 2030. The government will also rapidly establish a domestic production base by providing various forms of support, including subsidies and tax benefits. ▲ Second, for items that cannot be produced domestically due to resource scarcity, the government will significantly expand the number of stockpiled items from 24 to 29 and increase the maximum stockpile target from 180 days to 365 days. The Saemangeum Stockpiling Facility will start its operation in 2028, and supply chains will be diversified through summit diplomacy to further strengthen crisis response capabilities. ▲ Third, the government will invest KRW 10 trillion in R&D over five years for items requiring capacity enhancement. In particular, it plans to launch the 15 Growth Together Projects, with KRW 5 trillion to be invested over five years, providing dedicated support throughout the entire process—from forming a one-team partnership between anchor companies and partner companies, to technology development, demonstration, and entry into overseas markets. ▲ Finally, the government will comprehensively reform the governance system to secure overseas critical minerals through public-private cooperation. It will establish a public-private cooperation system through expert committee reviews of minerals with high supply risk and the creation of an Industrial Resource Security Fund, providing tailored support throughout the entire value chain, while seeking to restore the overseas business functions of dedicated institutions through their renewal. [ Strengthening the Fundamentals of Industry-Academia-Research for Securing SEED ] To ensure the success of the seven SEED projects, the capabilities of innovative actors across industry, academia, and research institutions that will secure and cultivate SEED will also be strengthened. First, to enhance the research competitiveness of universities, support for basic research will continue to expand, while a university-level support system (block funding) will be introduced to transform the research structure of universities. In line with the abolition of the project-based system (PBS), government-funded research institutes will be restructured as institutions responsible for carrying out national missions, such as the SEED projects. Moreover, the government will promote deep-tech startups, foster industry innovators with advanced technologies, and strengthen the R&D capabilities of corporate research institutes. By introducing equity-based “investment-type R&D,” the government will create an ecosystem in which it grows together with companies. Close cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutions is essential to ensure these projects go beyond mere technology development and evolve into future industries. Accordingly, the government plans to support industry, academia, and research institutions by dividing roles according to the characteristics of each SEED project so that they can together as one team. [ Implementation Framework for the Seven SEED Projects ] The government will establish an all-out, pan-government support system to accelerate the performance of the seven SEED projects. First, it plans to establish a public-private joint “Future Frontier Development Task Force (tentative),” led by the Deputy Prime Minister, and review detailed roadmaps and implementation progress for each project through the Meeting of Ministers Related to Science and Technology. In addition, the government plans to boldly reform institutional barriers, including laws and regulations, that hinder innovative R&D and the rapid technology commercialization. Furthermore, the government aims to secure global leadership in future industries by providing sustained and stable support for the seven SEED projects, including by reinvesting capital generated through mega-projects such as semiconductors. Through these efforts, it will provide future generations with new opportunities to take on challenges and shape Korea into a country that no one can match. 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.

Sovereign AI Foundation Models Developed by Four Elite Teams All Listed as Notable AI Models by US-based Epoch AI

2026.08.18

- The sovereign AI models developed in the first half of this year, with improved performance, have been recognized.- So far this year, only three countries worldwide — the US, China, and Korea — have notable AI models.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that the AI models developed during the first half of 2026 by the four elite teams joining the “Sovereign AI Foundation Model” project were all listed as “Notable AI Models” by Epoch AI, a US-based nonprofit AI research organization. This indicator is recognized as one of the key measures of national AI competitiveness. For example, it serves as a key measure in the annual “AI Index Report” published by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (Stanford HAI). ※ The number of notable AI models in 2025 (as of the Stanford HAI’s 2026 AI Index Report): 59 in the US, 35 in China, and 8 in Korea.In particular, given that only three countries — the United States, China, and Korea — currently have models recognized as Notable AI Models by Epoch AI, this achievement is considered a significant milestone demonstrating that Korea has secured world-class AI competitiveness.During the first half of 2026, the elite teams participating in the “Sovereign AI Foundation Model” project developed globally competitive sovereign AI foundation models despite having relatively limited resources and constrained conditions compared to global big tech companies, and released them as open source. This demonstrates Korea’s AI competitiveness and its capacity to build an open ecosystem.“The sovereign AI models developed with Korea's technology are demonstrating world-class technological capabilities and showcasing the country’s real strength,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae. “Now that we must compete with major leading countries shoulder to shoulder on a larger stage, we will spare no effort to deliver tangible results for the public.”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.

Leading Research Institutions at Home and Abroad Join Forces to Pursue World-Class Research

2026.09.28

- 2026 Selection Results Finalized for the “Program for Establishing Collaboration Platforms and Supporting Joint Research among Top-Tier Research Institutions”- Support for Comprehensive Inter-Institutional Collaboration, Including Joint Research, Personnel Exchanges, and Information Sharing【Related National Policy Agenda】 26. System Innovation to Make Korea One of the World’s Top Five Science and Technology Powers The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyunghoon) announced that it has finalized the selection of new projects for the 2026 “Program for Establishing Collaboration Platforms and Supporting Joint Research among Top-Tier Research Institutions” (hereinafter the “Top-Tier Program”) and will begin providing support to the four selected consortia of Korean and overseas research institutions. The Top-Tier Program supports the establishment of long-term, sustainable collaboration platforms through comprehensive international cooperation among leading research institutions in Korea and abroad, including joint research, personnel exchanges, and information sharing. The program aims to continuously build and expand network assets with outstanding overseas research communities, while developing world-leading and first-of-their-kind technologies and addressing shared global challenges such as the climate crisis and infectious diseases. For reference, since 2024, the Top-Tier Program has supported four projects aimed at establishing close collaborative frameworks with leading research institutions around the world, including those in the United States, Japan, and Belgium. Through these efforts, the program has generated multifaceted collaborative outcomes, including 103 Science Citation Index (SCI)-level papers and 86 domestic and international personnel exchanges (as of January 2026). Each of the newly selected projects will receive KRW 2.3 billion annually in research and development funding for a period of ten years. The selection results and key details of each project are as follows: First, the joint research team of the Semiconductor Inspection and Metrology Research Center (Seoul National University-California Institute of Technology, U.S.) aims to secure ultra-high-resolution, ultra-high-speed, and highly reliable metrology technologies to meet the manufacturing and inspection needs of precision structures in future next-generation semiconductors. The research is expected to enhance non-destructive inspection capabilities for detecting invisible defects inside ultra-fine semiconductor structures and contribute to innovation in advanced AI-based manufacturing processes. The California Institute of Technology research team participating in the project possesses world-leading research capabilities in ultra-precision imaging technologies. The two institutions plan to establish a sustainable base for collaboration through a research consultative body and long-term invitations of research groups, among other initiatives. The joint research team of the Quantum Functional Materials Research Center (Pohang University of Science and Technology-Max Planck Institute, Germany) will develop novel materials capable of precisely controlling the fundamental properties of quantum systems, with the aim of securing core technologies for next-generation quantum devices that can overcome the limitations of conventional electronic technologies. The research is expected to facilitate the application of research outcomes to advanced industrial fields, including ultra-low-power information processing and quantum artificial intelligence (AI) information devices. The researchers from the Max Planck Institute participating in the joint research possess world-class research capabilities in advanced future materials and physical phenomena. The two institutions will further strengthen the foundation for collaboration through researcher exchanges, invitations of distinguished scholars, and the operation of a new Max Planck Center collaboration platform. The joint research team at the Global Ion Channel Innovation Research Center (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST)-National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Japan) aims to investigate, from multiple perspectives, the structures and mechanisms of ion channel variants that cause disorders, including pediatric encephalopathy, and to identify candidate compounds for personalized treatment. If the research objectives are achieved, the project is expected to make a significant contribution to securing technologies for the precision diagnosis and treatment of rare and intractable neurological diseases. Researchers from Japan’s National Institute for Physiological Sciences participating in the consortium are internationally recognized authorities in systems neuroscience, including primate research. The two institutions will foster a closely integrated collaborative ecosystem through a reciprocal joint appointments, the establishment of joint programs, and regular academic meetings. The joint research team of the Center for Intelligent Circular Chemical Ecosystem Innovation (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, KAIST and California Institute of Technology, Caltech) aims to develop advanced chemical upcycling technologies that can convert byproducts, such as halogen compounds and sulfur waste, into high-value chemicals and materials. These technologies are expected to develop into key enabling technologies for carbon neutrality and the circular economy. Caltech researchers participating in joint research projects are widely recognized for their expertise in computational chemistry and reaction mechanism elucidation. Building on this cooperation, the two institutions will promote short-term reciprocal research visits and establish scholarship programs for students, helping to nurture the next generation of researchers and expand international research network. Hwang Sung-hoon, Director General for International Cooperation Bureau at MSIT, said, “I would like to thank all the researchers and institutions in Korea and abroad for their hard work and support in preparing for the 2026 call for proposals. The MSIT will continue to provide strong support for the selected international research consortia so that their collaboration can produce tangible outcomes and make a meaningful impact on the global science and technology community. 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.

National AI Computing Center, a Key Infrastructure for Korea’s AI Highway, Breaks Ground in Haenam

2026.08.18

- The groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 3rd at the Solaseado Data Center Park in Haenam. - The center aims to build the National AI Computing Center equipped with 15,000 AI chips by 2028. 【Relevant National Task】20. Establishing an “AI Highway” to Become a Top Three Global AI Powerhouses (AI G3)The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the National AI Computing Center on August 3rd at the Solaseado Data Center Park site in Haenam-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City and announced the launch of full-scale construction.The National AI Computing Center, a key infrastructure for the AI Highway, plans to secure advanced AI computing resources to create an environment for AI research, development, and services, promote the wider adoption of domestically produced AI chips, and support the growth of Korea’s AI ecosystem.A call for proposals to select an operator for the project ran from September 8 to October 21 last year, and the Samsung SDS-led consortium, which proposed Haenam Solaseado as the site for the center, was the sole bidder. Following technology and policy evaluations, financial reviews, and approval of an investment from the National Growth Fund, the Samsung SDS-led consortium was ultimately selected.* Samsung SDS, Naver Cloud, Samsung C&T, Kakao, Samsung Electronics, Clush, KT, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, and Seonamhaean Enterprise City DevelopmentIn addition, to pool private capital and expertise based on public seed investment, Korea AI Computing Center (KOACC, CEO: Ahn Jung-tae) was established on June 10, 2026 through a public-private joint investment by MSIT, the Financial Services Commission (FSC)’s National Growth Fund, and the Samsung SDS-led consortium.KOACC will take full charge of building and operating the National AI Computing Center.The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Bae Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MSIT; members of the National Assembly including Park Jie-won, Han Jun-ho, and Ahn Do-geol; Min Hyung-bae, Mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City; Ahn Jung-tae, CEO of KOACC; Lee June-hee, CEO of Samsung SDS; Kim Yu-won, CEO of Naver Cloud; and representatives from the government, the National Assembly, local governments, the private consortium for this project, Korea Development Bank (KDB), Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA).The ceremony consisted of the opening declaration, business progress report, welcoming remarks and congratulatory speeches by distinguished guests, a vision declaration, a promotional video screening, and a ceremonial event marking the groundbreaking.Following the ceremony, KOACC will begin full-scale efforts to build the National AI Computing Center.To secure the electricity and water needed for the center’s operation, KOACC is smoothly preparing the necessary infrastructure including completing an application for electricity supply with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and constructing water supply pipelines. KOACC also plans to carry out construction of new buildings as well as facility construction for operating high-performance AI servers in parallel to complete the National AI Computing Center by 2028 without delay.In particular, in 2027, before the center’s completion, some of the AI computing resources to be deployed at the National AI Computing Center will be made available in advance through Samsung SDS’s data centers. This is intended to proactively address the urgent demand for AI computing infrastructure from industry, academia, and research institutions.Once the National AI Computing Center is established, it will support the growth of Korea’s AI ecosystem by providing world-class AI computing infrastructure at reasonable prices to industry, academia, and research institutions, and by actively supporting government-led AI innovation efforts.Furthermore, MSIT plans to establish an R&D Zone within the National AI Computing Center to provide an environment for designing domestic AI chips and verifying prototypes. It also plans to support the wider adoption of domestically produced AI chips by putting performance-verified products into commercial service.In addition, in cooperation with agencies including FSC, MSIT plans to actively consider policy support such as demand matching and funding that are needed to ensure the smooth early-stage operation of the National AI Computing Center.“Through the National AI Computing Center, the government and the private sector will join forces to simultaneously secure advanced GPUs and promote the development of domestically produced AI chips, thereby contributing to securing Korea’s full-stack AI competitiveness and helping the country emerge as an AI infrastructure hub in Asia,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said. “We expect that the Haenam Solaseado Data Center Park will emerge as the central hub of the three mega-projects, leveraging its abundant renewable energy and scalable location, ultimately becoming a model of balanced development where the region and the nation grow together,” he added.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.

AI Growth Ladder for All Project Launches to Connect Learning, Development, and Startup Opportunities

2026.08.18

- MSIT jointly held a launch ceremony for the “AI Growth Ladder for All Project” on August 3rd at the National Gwangju Science Museum.- The project aims to establish a virtuous cycle from AI learning (AI Learning Center for All) to development and demonstration (AI Testbed for All and AI Lounge for All), and youth entrepreneurship, ultimately strengthening citizens’ ability to use AI.【Relevant National Task】21. Becoming the world’s most AI-literate countryThe Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) held a launch ceremony for the “AI Growth Ladder for All Project,” an initiative aiming to improve citizens’ ability to use AI and to establish an AI innovation ecosystem, on August 3rd at the National Gwangju Science Museum and announced the official launch of the integrated AI Learning Center for All, AI Testbed for All, and AI Lounge for All.The launch ceremony was attended by Bae Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MSIT; Jeong Jun-ho, Lim Moon-young, and Cho In-cheul, members of the National Assembly representing Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City; Ko Gwang-wan, Vice Mayor for Public Safety and Livelihood of Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City; Kim Hyung Chul, President of the National Information Society Agency (NIA); Jung Woo-sung, President of the Korea Foundation for Science and Creativity (KOSAC); representatives from AI Learning Center for All, AI Testbed for All, and AI Lounge for All; and local students and young people. They celebrated the launch of the integrated platform and toured the educational facilities.The AI Growth Ladder for All Project is part of the “AI for All in Daily Life” policy. In line with the recommendations of Korea’s AI Action Plan, the project is designed to link AI education, development and demonstration infrastructures that had been separately operated, and build a step-by-step growth framework of “learning, developing, and scaling up.”The project, which aims to improve citizens’ ability to use AI, is expected to 1) create an online AI learning environment that integrates public and private AI education content in one setting, 2) turn innovative ideas from the field into AI services and startups, going beyond simple education while encouraging hands-on practice and development, and 3) expand demonstration hubs nationwide that use AI to solve regional issues, thereby accelerating the use of AI in daily lives.1) AI Learning Center for All: One-stop Access to AI EducationThe AI Learning Center for All is an online AI education portal that links and provides public and private AI education content. It is available to anyone including elementary, middle, and high school students, university students, youth, and the general public. Using a generative AI-based chatbot search function, it recommends education programs tailored to users’ interests and levels and connects them to relevant services.Currently, the AI Learning Center for All is linked with education platforms operated by the government such as EBS Software Learning Platform (ESOF), SchoolAI, K-MOOC, STEP, AI Digital Learning Center, and the Small Business Owners’ Knowledge Learning Center, enabling anyone to easily receive education online. The portal also provides information on participatory offerings such as in-person training sessions, exhibitions, events, and competitions related to AI.From August, the portal will gradually expand its scope to include private education platforms as well. It will introduce a login and member management system to strengthen personalized services such as learning history tracking and tailored curation, so that people can easily find and use the AI education content they want.2) AI Testbed for All: Turning Knowledge into Actual AI ServicesThe AI Testbed for All is an online platform where anyone with an idea can develop AI services without cost or technical barriers. It is a one-stop platform that supports the entire development cycle from proposing ideas and providing development infrastructure to sharing outcomes and connecting them to commercialization and startup opportunities.The AI Testbed for All provides users with a vibe coding environment based on natural language, tokens for generative AI model subscriptions, private cloud services, and AI development support tools. In addition, it offers 99,000 public and private datasets and 13,000 application programming interfaces (APIs) which are essential for service development. It also offers development consulting services through a technical support center.The project will also progressively launch the “AI Idea Community,” a space for freely proposing and discussing ideas, and the “AI Showcase Board,” where people can share their development outcomes and exchange feedback, in order to form a participatory development ecosystem.3) AI Lounge for All: A Regional AI Innovation HubThe AI Lounge for All, an offline hub where people can create AI services in person and apply and demonstrate them in real-world settings, will begin full-scale operation.The AI Lounge for All is scheduled to be established in five regions (the metropolitan area, Gangwon, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, and Jeolla-Jeju) in 2026. There, “AI Sherpas,” or AI experts, will provide hands-on coaching so that even beginners can easily develop AI services. In addition, the lounge will serve as a venue where local residents and experts work together to identify pressing issues in the region, while also receiving AI coaching and field-based demonstration support.※ The Status of AI Lounges for All by Region: 1) The Metropolitan Area: Regional Media Centers (in Gimpo, Goyang, Seongnam, Hwaseong, and Anseong), 2) Gangwon: Gangneung Metaverse Experience Center, 3) Chungcheong: INNOSTAR (former Dreaming Railway Zone, Cheonan), 4) Gyeongsang: Daegu Technopark Sports Industry Support Center, Beomeo Library, Masan University, and MakerSpace Seomyeon, and 5) Jeolla-Jeju: National Gwangju Science MuseumMeanwhile, the project plans to actively support outstanding development teams identified through the AI Testbed for All and AI Lounge for All by providing close support for early-stage startup consulting covering legal, marketing, and technical matters as well as commercialization, thereby ensuring that excellent ideas lead to youth entrepreneurship.At the National Gwangju Science Museum (the AI Lounge for All for the Jeolla and Jeju regions), where the opening ceremony was held, key attendees watched a video introducing the “AI Growth Ladder for All: From Learning to Service Creation” and, while touring the AI Lounge for All, encouraged local youth who are participating in AI education and hands-on training.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said, “As we enter an era of major transformation in which AI is changing all aspects of life, the ability to use AI has become a ‘new basic competency’ that every citizen must possess and is central to national competitiveness.” He added, “Through the ‘AI Growth Ladder for All,’ which is taking its first steps today, we will firmly establish a virtuous cycle that leads from learning to development, field validation, and the creation of new value.”He went on to say, “We will meticulously lay the groundwork for ‘AI for All’ to ensure that the benefits of AI reach every citizen, not just specific social classes or regions.”Detailed information can be found on the AI Learning Center for All (ailearn4all.kr) and AI Testbed for All (aitestbed.kr) websites, and is easily accessible through major portals such as Naver and Daum.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.

MSIT and AMD Join Forces to Build an Open AI Computing Infrastructure Ecosystem

2026.08.27

- MSIT signs an MoU with global AI semiconductor company AMD- Comprehensive cooperation will be pursued to develop and demonstrate heterogeneous AI computing infrastructure; conduct joint research on “AI for Science” with the National AI for Science Research Center (NAIS); establish an “AMD AI Center of Excellence” in Korea; and foster AI talent and conduct joint research on physical AI【Related National Policy Agenda】 22. Securing Leadership in AI Technologies and Talent The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyunghoon) announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AMD Chair and CEO Lisa Su on cooperation in the AI semiconductor ecosystem at AMD Advancing AI 2026, held in San Francisco, United States, at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 (U.S. Pacific Time). The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in AI semiconductors and computing. AMD is a global semiconductor company with a portfolio spanning central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs). The company recorded annual revenue of $34.6 billion in 2025. Driven in particular by growing demand for server CPUs and GPUs, its data center business generated $16.6 billion in revenue, cementing AMD’s position as a major player in the AI computing market. AMD is working to expand the AI computing ecosystem through its open-source software platform ROCm* and open standards. The company is also actively helping build an open AI infrastructure ecosystem, including as a founding member of UALink**, an open standard for high-speed interconnection between AI accelerators, alongside a number of global companies such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft. * ROCm (Radeon Open Compute): AMD’s open-source-based software platform for AI and high-performance computing, designed to support GPU-based AI development and application implementation.* UALink (Ultra Accelerator Link): An open interconnect standard for high-speed data transfer and connectivity between AI accelerators, enabling efficient connections among different types of computing devices within large-scale AI systems. The recent global AI semiconductor market is rapidly shifting away from computing architectures centered on a single GPU toward heterogeneous computing architectures* that combine different types of computing devices—including CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs—to suit different service requirements and improve cost efficiency. This shift is being driven by rising inference demand as generative AI and agentic AI become more widespread. It reflects a broader change in AI infrastructure competition toward using the optimal computing resources for each workload in order to reduce the cost of delivering AI services while optimizing performance and power efficiency. * Heterogeneous computing architecture: An infrastructure technology that combines and optimally configures different types of AI semiconductors, such as CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs, based on computational characteristics, rather than relying solely on GPUs, to reduce AI service delivery costs and improve power efficiency. The MoU was signed in response to these changes in the global AI computing architecture. It aims to build heterogeneous AI computing infrastructure that integrates AMD CPUs and GPUs with Korean AI semiconductors (NPUs) that have strengths in inference, while expanding global collaboration for Korea's AI semiconductor ecosystem. First, the two sides will work to develop and demonstrate heterogeneous AI computing infrastructure integrating AMD CPUs and GPUs with Korean NPUs. Through this effort, an integrated computing environment will be created that enables diverse computing resources to be efficiently combined and utilized according to the characteristics of each AI service, while an open AI computing ecosystem will be established in which Korean companies across related sectors—including not only AI semiconductor companies but also those specializing in memory, DPUs, CXL, networking, servers, and orchestration software—can participate together. The collaboration will also serve as a basis for developing practical reference models to facilitate the integration of Korean AI semiconductors into the global AI computing supply chain. The two sides will also pursue cooperation on AI for Science research, centered on the National AI for Science Research Center (NAIS). To support AI research in advanced science and technology fields as well as ambitious research and development (R&D), AMD plans to provide high-performance computing resources, including CPUs and GPUs, along with AI software and technical experts. In particular, AMD plans to establish an AI Center of Excellence in Korea. The AI Center of Excellence will serve as a cooperation hub supporting technological cooperation among Korean companies, universities, and research institutions, AI semiconductor software development, computing technology validation, and joint research based on AMD’s AI computing resources and software capabilities. Through this, AMD’s global network and Korea’s industry-academia-research capabilities will be connected to create various cooperation opportunities based on an open AI ecosystem. The two sides will also cooperate in fostering outstanding AI talent. AMD plans to support education and research programs based on AI computing platforms and computing resources at major universities and graduate schools in Korea, while expanding opportunities for Korean students, professors, and researchers to experience the latest AI technologies and global development environments. They also plan to promote joint research and technological cooperation in next-generation AI, such as physical AI, and thereby expanding the foundation for industry-academia-research cooperation to secure future AI technological competitiveness. The cooperation between the MSIT and AMD gained momentum following AMD CEO Lisa Su’s visit to Korea in March, and the two sides have since specified areas of cooperation and implementation plans through close consultations. President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to the United States provided opportunities for concretizing practical cooperation projects in areas such as AI computing infrastructure, AI research, and talent development, leading to the signing the MoU. In particular, the signing ceremony was held at the invitation of Lisa Su, providing another opportunity to reaffirm the two sides’ commitment to strategic cooperation in addressing changes in the global AI ecosystem. Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyunghoon said, “Global AI competition is changing toward heterogeneous computing that combines various computing resources such as CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs, and toward open ecosystems. To enable Korea to advance as one of the world’s top three AI powers, it is important to secure an independent yet open foundation for AI computing infrastructure. Through cooperation with AMD, we will be able to enhance the competitiveness of Korea’s AI semiconductor ecosystem and create a new cooperation model that addresses changes in global AI computing infrastructure.” Lisa Su, President and CEO of AMD, said, “Through cooperation with the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea, AMD is bringing together its capabilities across high-performance computing technologies, open software, and global ecosystem partnerships to support Korea to build its future AI infrastructure. We will accelerate Korea’s AI innovation and economic growth simultaneously through close technological cooperation, AI talent development, and the establishment of an open AI ecosystem foundation.” The two sides will create a joint working group for the practical implementation of this agreement and will continue discussing detailed cooperation agenda and implementation plans through quarterly working-level meetings. 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.

[Press Backgrounder] San Francisco AI Summit Launches Global Investment Initiative to Propel Korea’s Rise as an Indispensable AI Powerhouse

2026.08.27

- Strategic investment partnerships with global technology leaders set to accelerate the three mega-projects unveiled on June 29- Korea to establish itself as an indispensable pillar of the global AI supply chain and a global hub driving the growth of new AI markets- Summit produces USD 950 billion in investment and cooperation commitments, including semiconductor partnerships and the development of AI data centers with a combined capacity of 5 GW The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon, announced that it hosted the San Francisco AI Summit in San Francisco on Friday, July 24. The summit brought together leading Korean and global companies at the forefront of the AI revolution. * (Korean participants): Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong; SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won; Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun; and NAVER Founder and Chairman Lee Hae-jin (Global participants): NVIDIA Founder and CEO Jensen Huang; Broadcom President and CEO Hock Tan; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman; and Anthropic Co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei Held in San Francisco, a cradle of advanced technology and home to the global technology companies and promising start-ups driving the AI revolution, the summit brought together some of the world’s most prominent AI leaders. They shared their visions for the future of AI and announced a major global AI investment initiative that translates potential partnerships between Korean and global companies into concrete plans of action. In the San Francisco AI Declaration, President Lee Jae Myung set out Korea’s capabilities and vision to become an indispensable hub in the global AI supply chain, underpinned by its world-leading memory semiconductor industry. He also highlighted the strategic value of working with Korea as a trusted and reliable supply chain partner. The Global AI Leaders’ Dialogue that followed brought together Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, NAVER Chairman Lee Hae-jin and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. The participants discussed comprehensive partnerships across the AI ecosystem, ranging from semiconductor supply and production to the expansion of AI infrastructure and the development and deployment of physical AI. They also presented concrete plans to put these partnerships into action. Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella joined the summit via video. He expressed Microsoft’s commitment to advancing AI and accelerating its global adoption through cooperation with Korea in semiconductors and AI infrastructure, including next-generation AI memory semiconductors. The summit culminated in the signing of six agreements between Korean companies and global technology leaders. Together, the agreements represent USD 950 billion in investment and cooperation commitments, including partnerships in semiconductor supply and production and the development of AI data centers with a combined capacity of 5 GW. The agreements are expected to further deepen partnerships between Korean and global companies and expand the scope and pace of cooperation—from practical collaboration in technology and infrastructure to the mobilization of large-scale international investment. * ① Samsung Electronics–Broadcom: USD 200 billion in cooperation on memory semiconductor supply and foundry services over five years from 2026 to 2030② Samsung SDS–Anthropic: Partnership to jointly develop new AI markets and train applied AI engineers ③ SK Group (SK hynix and SK Telecom)–NVIDIA: USD 500 billion in cooperation, including memory semiconductor purchases and support for the development and expansion of AI data centers with a combined capacity of up to 2 GW④ SK Group (SK hynix)–Microsoft: Cooperation on memory semiconductor purchases⑤ SK Telecom–Anthropic: Investment and cooperation in gigawatt-scale AI data center projects⑥ NAVER–NVIDIA: Agreements worth USD 10 billion covering investment in a global AI factory and the supply of related infrastructure Samsung Electronics will work with Broadcom over the next five years on the supply of advanced memory semiconductors and foundry services for AI chip production. The partnership is valued at USD 200 billion. Samsung SDS will also partner with Anthropic to jointly develop new AI markets and train applied AI engineers. At the briefing on the three mega-projects held in June, SK Group—through SK Telecom and SK hynix—announced plans to invest in AI data centers with a combined capacity of 5 GW by 2029. Recognizing Korea’s strong potential as an AI infrastructure hub in Asia, Anthropic will work with SK Telecom to pursue investment and cooperation in gigawatt-scale AI data center projects in Korea. SK Group will also pursue USD 500 billion in cooperation with NVIDIA. This will include NVIDIA’s support for the development and expansion of AI data centers with a combined capacity of up to 2 GW, priority allocation of its latest Vera Rubin GPU systems, and cooperation on the supply of advanced memory semiconductors. To meet rapidly growing demand for AI services, SK Group will also pursue a long-term partnership to supply memory semiconductors for Microsoft’s AI data centers. Building on its partnership with AWS, developed through the joint construction of an AI data center in Ulsan last year, SK Group plans to expand cooperation on the development of gigawatt-scale AI data centers in Korea. NAVER announced its $10 billion global AI factory infrastructure expansion plan, including a strategic investment partnership with NVIDIA and an infrastructure supply contract with Brookfield, a global investment management company. NVIDIA plans to invest $1 billion in NAVER by providing GPUs and expanding their cooperation to deepen partnership in the global AI markets. Furthermore, Brookfield will also invest $9 billion in NAVER to jointly secure the supply chain and stable infrastructure necessary to operate gigawatt-scale AI factories. Building on its world-class automobile manufacturing capabilities, robotics, and data, Hyundai Motor Group outlined a physical AI vision for regionally integrated intelligence through technology partnerships with leading technology companies. Moreover, it revealed its plan to cooperate with NVIDIA in establishing the Robotic Reference Platform to support the AI development at universities and startups, and announced a plan to collaborate with Waymo in building an innovative environment for self-driving cars, while fostering domestic strategic hubs for physical AI through investment in projects such as Saemangeum AI Valley. Deputy Prime Minister Bae stated, “Today, we gathered with global tech titans who rarely come together in one place. It was a meaningful opportunity for us to discuss practical and detailed cooperation plans and reaffirm Korea’s crucial role in the global AI supply chain and its global competitiveness in AI.“ He added, “The Korean government will actively support the successful implementation of the large-scale AI investment initiatives discussed in detail today by leading Korean companies and global tech titans. We will make every effort to swiftly implement the San Francisco AI Declaration announced by the Korean president, with the aim of making Korea an unrivaled global AI manufacturing hub and an AI cooperation platform.“ 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.

An Unrivaled Korea, Happy Together Through AI and Science and Technology

2026.07.23

- The Work Plan Briefing by MSIT and KASAfor the Second Half of 2026 -Focus Areas1. Carrying out three major mega projects at full scale2. Realizing an AI Universal Basic Society for all3. Building a world-leading science and technology ecosystem4. Building a growth ladder for young people while supporting innovation-driven growth in the regions5. Becoming one of the world’s top five aerospace powers[Relevant National Tasks]20. Establishing an “AI Highway” to Become a Top Three Global AI Powerhouses (AI G3)21. Becoming the world’s most AI-literate country22. Securing “unmatched” frontier technologies and talent in AI23. Realizing a “Universal Basic AI Society” to enhance public safety and universal quality of life26. Innovating systems to leap into the top five global S&T powerhouses27. Cultivating a basic research ecosystem and emerging as a global S&T talent powerhouse28. Nurturing next-generation (NEXT) strategic technologies that lead the worldThe Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) and the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA, Administrator: Oh Tae-seong) briefed President Lee Jae Myung on the work plan for the second half of 2026 at 10 a.m. on July 16 at Yeongbingwan, Cheongwadae.As the second work plan briefing presided over by the President since the inauguration of the new administration, the meeting closely reviewed whether the policies and issues reported last December were being implemented as planned, and held in-depth discussions on the key tasks to be pursued in the second half of 2026.Under the goal of “An Unrivaled Korea, Happy Together Through AI and Science and Technology,” MSIT set five key focus areas for the second half of 2026, and prepared detailed key tasks in line with these five directions: (1) carrying out three major mega projects at full scale; (2) realizing an AI Universal Basic Society for all; (3) building a world-leading science and technology ecosystem; (4) building a growth ladder for young people while supporting innovation-driven growth in the regions; and (5) becoming one of the world’s top five aerospace powers.(1) Carrying Out Three Major Mega Projects at Full ScaleThis task aims to secure world-leading capabilities in AI data centers, physical AI, and K-semiconductors, taking Korea from recovery to a new leap forward and ultimately realizing an unrivaled Korea.We will promote AI data centers as a national strategic industry.We will support the smooth operation of gigawatt-scale, ultra-large AI data centers to be built through private investment worth 550 trillion won from companies such as SK, GS, and Naver. Through a three-pronged support system — a cross-ministry task force, a public-private alliance, and a dedicated support team — we will expedite administrative procedures companies need to take care of such as securing electricity and land, and obtaining permits and licenses.Starting next year, we will localize and advance core solutions for AI data centers, as well as key IT, power, and cooling equipment. In connection with the establishment of clusters, we will provide a comprehensive support package covering talent, test labs, financing, and exports, while focusing on fostering upstream and downstream industries.We will secure world-leading competitiveness in physical AI.Physical AI is an area where Korea can excel given its strong industrial infrastructure and world-class AI capabilities. Therefore, we aim to become the world’s leading country in physical AI by 2030.To secure the high-quality data essential for physical AI — data that combines motion with the laws of physics — starting this year, we will begin developing a sovereign world model, an AI system that mass-produces synthetic data combining motion and the laws of physics. Building on the accumulated data, we will establish a system for training physical AI models, and secure a world-leading physical AI foundation model within the next three years. Based on this, we will complete a domestic physical AI full stack and demonstrate these technological achievements not only in manufacturing but also in defense, care services, agriculture, and other fields, ultimately fostering physical AI as an export industry.We will further strengthen Korea’s world-leading position in K-semiconductors.We will establish a K-AI semiconductor full package ecosystem where everything — from AI semiconductor chips to infrastructure, networks, software, and services — is developed in Korea. We will also expand support to help the market gain a foothold in its early stages through public-led procurement support such as facilitating the adoption of products developed by large companies and designating innovative products for public procurement.To secure source technologies for next-generation semiconductors, we will complete preliminary planning in the second half of this year and then begin developing ultra-fine semiconductors (1nm-class devices) that can overcome the physical limitations of current semiconductors, as well as stacked semiconductors (next-generation HBM).(2) Realizing an AI Universal Basic Society for AllTo ensure that differences in AI accessibility and utilization capabilities do not turn into economic and social divides, we will shape an environment where everyone can easily use our homegrown AI without financial burden.We will launch AI services for all so that all people can use our sovereign AI.Within this year, we will provide the public with a general-purpose AI chatbot service (similar to ChatGPT) powered by our sovereign AI model, free of charge and without usage limits. This service will also include an AI feature that helps people easily find and access various government support programs such as youth support benefits, providing relevant information and even handling applications on their behalf in one seamless process.Starting next year, we will evolve the service into AI agents, which are more accessible and easier to use than conventional chatbots, ushering in an era where everyone has their own personal AI agent.We will secure a globally top-tier sovereign AI model.As the US tightens AI-related access controls, securing a sovereign AI model has become increasingly important. Within the second half of this year, we aim to secure a homegrown AI model ranking among the world’s top 10 in performance. After that, we will focus on securing a globally top-tier sovereign AI model through bold, concentrated support in advanced GPUs, data, and talent.We will ensure that everyone can use AI in their daily lives.In parallel, we will strengthen AI literacy education for all citizens. Together with 12 relevant ministries, including MSIT, the Ministry of Education (MOE), and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL), we will provide AI learning opportunities to 5.14 million people within this year. In particular, starting in the second half of this year, we will further improve accessibility by creating an online platform where citizens can easily find and enroll in both private- and public-sector AI courses in one place, and by expanding outreach AI education for senior citizens and vulnerable groups.AI services closely related to people’s daily lives will also be launched within this year. Beginning in the second half of this year with four services (agricultural and livestock product price comparison, AI-based tax consultation, national heritage guide, and crisis response for children and adolescents on social media), a total of 10 services will be launched by next year.We will build a safe AI-enabled daily life for all.To protect people’s valuable assets and information from AI-driven cyber threats, starting in July, we have begun using cutting-edge AI to identify vulnerabilities in infrastructure critical to public life and safety, such as telecommunications and digital platforms. In addition, we plan to develop and distribute a security-specialized AI model built on our sovereign AI model.(3) Building a World-leading Science and Technology EcosystemThis task aims to accelerate the fostering of strategic technologies in order to lead the global race for technological leadership and secure an unrivaled growth engine.We will solve national challenges by applying AI to strategic technology research.We will accelerate the “K-Moonshot,” a project that aims to resolve national challenges by applying AI to research in strategic technologies. In the quantum field, we aim to secure a domestically developed 50-qubit quantum computer within this year, and to develop a 100-qubit error-correcting quantum computer by 2029. In addition, we will designate quantum clusters to actively support the discovery and spread of region-based quantum technology use cases.In the field of new drug development, we have been building, since April this year, an autonomous experimentation infrastructure that enables the rapid, AI- and robot-based verification of new drug candidates designed by AI. In 2027, we plan to begin developing a cancer-specialized AI model, and unveil an initial version by the end of 2028. These efforts are expected to significantly shorten the drug development timeline.For brain-computer interfaces (BCI) — technology that controls computers using brain signals — we aim to demonstrate a BCI product for people with paralysis affecting all four limbs by 2030. To this end, we will launch a BCI consortium comprising industry, academia, research institutes, and hospitals this August, and begin developing source technologies next year, including AI that interprets and decodes signals between the brain and computers.We will secure world’s first and best technologies to drive the energy transition.To prepare for the rapidly growing electricity demand in the AI era, we will accelerate technological innovation in areas such as small modular reactors (SMR) and nuclear fusion. In the SMR field, alongside the ongoing construction of the first commercial SMR (scheduled for completion by 2035), we plan to unveil a strategy for developing next-generation SMRs such as molten salt reactors (MSR) and micro modular reactors (MMR) in July. Next year, we will also launch a large-scale public-private project to build a nuclear-powered vessel equipped with an SMR.In the field of nuclear fusion, the “dream energy,” we are currently designing a demonstration reactor with the goal of achieving power generation in the 2030s. To complete the demonstration reactor by 2035, we plan to begin establishing public-private cooperation models such as SPC (Special Purpose Company) starting next year.In addition, we will shift to a national R&D system that maximizes researchers’ willingness to take on challenges and to innovate. We will carry out institutional reforms to remove obstacles that hinder innovation and focus throughout the R&D process, and to help researchers maximize their creativity and spirit of challenge.We will create an environment where researchers can focus only on research.We will introduce a “failure-as-an-asset” system so that researchers can boldly take on challenges without fear of failure. By revising the Enforcement Decree of the National Research and Development Innovation Act this July, we will ensure that researchers who demonstrate excellence in the research process still receive support for follow-up research, even if they did not achieve their original research goals.We will also link and integrate information systems to reduce researchers’ administrative burden. First, we will expand the linkage between individual research institutions’ systems and the government-wide Integrated R&D Information System (IRIS) to fundamentally eliminate the inconvenience of researchers having to input the same information redundantly in both systems. We also plan to integrate, by 2028, the major research support systems that have until now been separately operated including IRIS (for research projects), Ezbaro and RCMS (for research funding), and NTIS (for disclosing research outcomes).In addition, for new technologies that are difficult for the private sector to invest in, we will introduce “investment-based R&D,” a new support method under which the government shares investment risk, while creating a virtuous cycle of recovering returns from successful investments and reinvesting them. We will establish the legal basis within 2026 and launch a pilot program in 2027.We will use AI to innovate research methods and R&D management systems.We will expand infrastructure to introduce AI throughout the entire research process and improve research productivity. In September this year, we will launch the sixth national supercomputer, equipped with cutting-edge GPUs, laying the foundation for providing researchers with timely access to advanced computing resources. We will also prepare subordinate regulations under the Research Data Act (effective June 2027), which will enable the full sharing and use of all research data, except for information related to national security or corporate trade secrets.We will also introduce AI in research administration. By applying AI to R&D management processes — including selecting evaluation committee members, monitoring research funding, and interpreting research administrative regulations — we aim to enhance fairness and reliability.We will improve the innovative capabilities of industry, academia, and research institutions.With the phased abolition of the Project-based System (PBS), we plan to complete the establishment of distinct missions for each government-funded research institute within this year. We will integrate administrative functions common across institutions, such as auditing, hiring, and public relations, and improve the technology transfer system so that technology transfer revenues can be used as bonuses for outstanding employees, thereby fostering government-funded institutes as the nation’s flagship research institutions.We will also introduce a block funding model that allows universities to invest in research personnel and infrastructure at their own discretion, and will select corporate R&D centers with outstanding capabilities in core technologies to promote corporate R&D activities.(4) Building a Growth Ladder for Young People while Supporting Innovation-driven Growth in the RegionsThis task aims to support talented individuals with potential so that they can pursue their dreams in the fields of science, technology, and AI, boost economic vitality through entrepreneurship and quality jobs, and open a new future.We will build a growth ladder that enables young talent to pursue their dreams through science, technology, and AI.To encourage talented individuals to enter and remain in Korea’s science and engineering fields, we will expand gifted schools affiliated with Korea’s science and technology institutes (by opening two new schools in Chungbuk and Gwangju, and converting around three existing schools into gifted schools), and attract approximately 600 talented individuals from overseas within this year by offering research funding, preferential visa treatment, and improved living and settlement conditions.We will also expand our growth and support system for young talent throughout the entire career pathway from master’s to doctoral to early-career researcher. Our plan is to raise the scholarship coverage for master’s and doctoral students from the current 1.3% to 2.8% within this year, with the goal of reaching 10% by 2030, while gradually expanding basic research funding coverage for early-career faculty to 70% by 2030.In the fields of AI and AX, we will innovate university AI education through AI-focused universities and establish new AX graduate schools based on industry-academia cooperation, nurturing highly capable young talent.We support young people’s future through deep tech startups and job creation.By establishing new startup centers within Korea’s science and technology institutes (increasing the number from one to four) and strengthening the demonstration and incubation capabilities of these institutes and government-funded research institutes, we will identify more than 500 deep tech startup teams within this year. In parallel, we will introduce exceptions for conflict-of-interest rules to encourage entrepreneurship within research institutes, and improve related policies at these science and technology institutes, such as removing restrictions on leaves of absence for founding startups and extending entrepreneurial leave.In particular, to provide focused support for AI startups, we will expand public-private investment funding to 2 trillion won within this year, while newly establishing a 20-billion won “AI venture fund” for concentrated investment in early-stage AI startups. In addition, we will provide an integrated development environment where young people can develop their own AI services, provide outstanding developers with expert consulting, and support them in launching startups.Above all, we will create quality jobs so that young people can build stable careers in Korea. We will comprehensively identify talented candidates — including full-time researchers and postdoctoral researchers at universities, as well as faculty, researchers, and dedicated support staff at the four science and technology institutes (KAIST, GIST, DGIST, and UNIST) and regional branches of government-funded research institutes. We will also create job and internship opportunities in the fields of AI and information security that lead to actual employment.We will use AI and science and technology as a catalyst for innovative growth in the regions.We will support the resurgence of regional economies and a nationwide transformation through the AI transition of regional industries, while using R&D as a catalyst for self-sustaining regional growth.In the second half of this year, we plan to begin full-scale development of AX hubs in four regional blocks: Seonam (mobility and energy), Dongnam (precision manufacturing), Daegyeong (bio, healthcare, and robotics), and Jeonbuk (AI factories). Next year, we will expand AX nationwide by adding three more regional blocks including Jungbu, Gangwon, and Jeju.At the same time, we will establish joint AX research institutes between Korea’s four science and technology institutes and companies to supply core technologies for regional strategic industries and field-ready research personnel in a timely manner. In addition, we will support the expansion of out-of-school AI innovation education programs such as the Innovation Academy and AI/SW Maestro to non-metropolitan areas, to help young people in these regions build the capabilities needed for employment and entrepreneurship.To help regions develop the capabilities they need on their own, we will significantly expand region-led R&D funding, tentatively planning to allocate approximately three times the current budget in 2027. In addition, we will establish a new basic research track dedicated to early-career researchers in the regions, and improve related systems, such as reducing the R&D matching ratio required of regional companies, so that the expanded R&D funding can help revitalize regional R&D ecosystems.(5) Becoming One of the World’s Top Five Aerospace PowersBased on the “Korea’s Aerospace Industry Promotion Strategy” approved by the National Space Council on July 3, we will fully implement key tasks aimed at increasing the number of aerospace companies to 1,200 by 2035 and raising Korea’s global market share to 3.0%.We will build a space highway.In the second half of this year, we will carry out the fifth launch of the Korean Launch Vehicle Nuri carrying 15 satellites in total including a constellation of five microsatellites. We will also advance the development of a next-generation reusable launch vehicle aimed at reducing launch costs to one-tenth of current levels, while selecting the site for Korea’s second space center.We will rise to become a powerhouse in the aviation industry.We will launch “Team Korea,” a cooperative body of relevant ministries and the private sector, in August, to participate as a core partner in the international joint development of next-generation civil aircraft from the design stage, while also pursuing the localization of advanced aircraft engines.We will pioneer new economic frontiers on the Moon.In the second half of this year, we will launch the Lunar Space Environment Monitor (LUSEM) and keep the development and launch of a lunar communications satellite in 2029 and a small lunar lander in 2030 on schedule, securing an early foothold in the future space economy. To strengthen national security and communications sovereignty and create new markets in space and telecommunications, we will bring together nationwide capabilities from the public and private sectors to establish a Korean low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network by 2035.We will establish the South Coast Aerospace Belt.We will develop Sacheon, where KASA’s headquarters is located, into a comprehensive aerospace hub for research, manufacturing, and administration, while creating a private-led innovation ecosystem by linking Jinju, Changwon, Suncheon, and Goheung.In an era when securing advanced technology is directly tied to a nation’s survival, MSIT and KASA will not tolerate even the slightest delay, pursuing policies with a strong sense of urgency, and will do their utmost to ensure that the policies outlined in this work plan do not merely remain on paper, but translate into changes that the public can genuinely feel.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.

MSIT Begins “AI for All Project” to Offer AI Services through a Sovereign AI Model

2026.07.23

- 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.<Background>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.<Highlights of AI for All Project>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.<Support Measures and Future Plans>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.

Korea Has Its First-ever Recipient of the Prestigious “HFSP Nakasone Award”

2026.07.14

- Kim V. Narry, the Director of the IBS Center for RNA Research, receives the HFSP Nakasone Award in recognition of her pioneering achievements in RNA biology.- Director Kim revealed new mechanisms regulating gene expression, laying the molecular foundation for the development of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines.【Relevant National Task】26. Innovating systems to leap into the top five global S&T powerhouses.A Korean researcher has once again demonstrated the global standing of South Korea’s life sciences research by winning a globally renowned life sciences award.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that Kim V. Narry, the Director of the Center for RNA Research at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS, President: Chang Suk-bok), has been selected as the recipient of the 2027 Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP*) Nakasone Award.* HFSP is a global research support program established in 1989 by a group of major advanced countries to support innovative and challenging international collaborative research in the life sciences. To date, it has supported more than 8,500 researchers from 73 countries, and 31 recipients have won the Nobel Prize.The HFSP Nakasone Award is designed to recognize researchers who have achieved innovative scientific advance or breakthroughs in the life sciences. HFSP evaluates research achievements regardless of nationality or age and presents the award to pioneers leading life sciences research. In academic circles, the award is considered a “stepping stone to the Nobel Prize” as four of its 21 past recipients have received the Nobel Prize.Unlike other scientific awards that honor a researcher’s lifetime achievements, the Nakasone Award focuses on groundbreaking discoveries made within the past 10 years that have expanded the frontiers of the life sciences. Eligible research spans the full spectrum of the life sciences from biological phenomena at the molecular and cellular levels to systems neuroscience including cognitive functions, and the interactions between living organisms and the environment.This award marks a historic achievement, and a triumph for the Korean life sciences community, demonstrating its global competitiveness, as it is the first time a Korean researcher has received the HFSP Nakasone Award since its inception in 2010.Since taking leadership of the IBS Center for RNA Research in 2012, Director Kim has revealed the regulatory principles governing RNA synthesis, function, and degradation, pioneering a new field in RNA biology. In particular, she uncovered new mechanisms regulating gene expression and unconventional RNA processing pathways, laying an important foundation for understanding the underlying mechanisms of disease and fundamental principles of life. She is recognized as a pioneer in advancing RNA biology by providing the molecular foundation for the development of long-lasting mRNA therapeutics and vaccines.HFSP announced that Director Kim has been selected as the recipient of the 2027 Nakasone Award in recognition of these research achievements, particularly for “revealing a new regulatory mechanism of gene expression by discovering the unconventional RNA tailing* pathway.”* Regulating RNA stability, degradation, and protein synthesis by adding tails to the ends of RNAAfter competing against 45 globally renowned scientists, Director Kim was selected as a finalist by the HFSP Council of Scientists in April 2026. Following final approval by the HFSP Board of Trustees on July 6, she was officially announced as the 2027 Nakasone Award recipient.The awardee will receive a commemorative medal, a certificate, and a research grant of US$15,000 and will deliver the HFSP Nakasone Lecture at the annual HFSP Awardees Meeting, where the award is presented. Director Kim will deliver the lecture at next year’s meeting.So far, MSIT has continued to support outstanding Korean researchers to participate in HFSP programs through the Masterclass Workshop*, while focusing on identifying candidates for the Nakasone Award through its Talent Discovery Subcommittee.* An educational program to encourage greater participation by researchers in HFSP programs, where the HFSP Secretariat and selected researchers share information on application procedures, evaluation criteria, strategies for writing research proposals, and best practices.“A Korean researcher winning the HFSP Nakasone Award for the first time is a proud achievement as Korea’s research capabilities in the life sciences have been recognized globally,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said. “We will continue to provide full support so that researchers at the forefront of science and technology can continuously produce world-class innovations and gain recognition on the global stage.”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.

[Press Briefing] MSIT Establishes a Comprehensive Cooperation Framework in Science, Technology, and Digital Technology with Mongolia

2026.08.27

- MSIT signs MOU on Science and Technology Cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Development of Mongolia- MSIT signs MOU on Digital Technology Cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications (MDDC) of Mongolia【Relevant National Task】 26. Bring Systematic Innovation to Become One of the World’s Top Five Science and Technology Powerhouses On the occasion of President Lee’s state visit to Mongolia, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon) signed an MOU on Science and Technology Cooperation and an MOU on Digital Technology Cooperation with Mongolian counterparts to lay the foundation for future cooperation on July 9, 2026. 1. Laying the Foundation for Science and Technology Cooperation The MSIT signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Technology Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as “MOU on Science and Technology”) with the Ministry of Economy and Development of Mongolia in the fields of bio-engineering, mineral resources including critical minerals and rare earth elements, climate change and environment, energy, and information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI). The MOU on Science and Technology intends to strengthen bilateral collaboration through policy exchange, joint research, cooperation in international forums, talent exchange, and cooperation between institutions. This MOU on Science and Technology and the third Korea-Mongolia Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology, which was held for the first time in 14 years, will provide a strong foundation for bilateral cooperation and bringing together the strengths and capabilities of both nations. 2. Paving the Way for Digital Technology Cooperation Furthermore, the MSIT signed an MOU on Digital Cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications of Mongolia in the areas of AI, next-generation telecommunications, ICT equipment, digital transformation, and modernization of high-power radio broadcasting infrastructure. This MOU on Digital Cooperation includes diverse forms of collaboration such as information exchanges, joint research, cooperation in international forums, and talent exchanges. Following the MOU on Information and Telecommunication Technology Cooperation between Korea and Mongolia, this MOU on Digital Cooperation is significance in that it will take bilateral AI cooperation to the next level, while also promoting collaboration to help support Mongolia’s digital transformation. Deputy Prime Minister Bae stated, that “On the occasion of today’s Korea-Mongolia Summit, we have laid a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation in science, technology and digital technology. Building on this foundation, we will bring together the strengths and capabilities of both nations and further strengthen our cooperation in a mutually beneficial way.” 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.

Results of Korea’s Digital Industry Survey (Based on 2024 Data)

2026.07.22

- Digital industry sales reached 1,378 trillion won in 2024, up 117.2 trillion won (9.3%) from 2023※ Digital Industry Sales (unit: trillion won): 1,142 (2022) → 1,261 (10.5%↑, 2023) → 1,378 (9.3%↑) in 2024- Digital maturity, the degree of using and innovating digital technology, stood at 75.4%.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced the results of “2025 Digital Industry Survey (The Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS)’s Approval No. 127021),” which was conducted jointly with the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI, President: Rhee Sang-kyu) to comprehensively analyze the scale and status of Korea’s digital industry in 2024.This is the third publication of the Digital Industry Survey since it was designated as a nationally approved statistic in 2023. The survey was conducted over four months (September–December 2025) covering 10,323 businesses nationwide through a combination of online, telephone, and in-person (on-site) surveys, followed by a process of data refinement, analysis, and compilation into statistical reports (January–June 2026).Key survey findings show that the digital industry’s sales revenue in 2024 reached 1,378 trillion won, accounting for 15.2% of total industrial revenue (9,038 trillion won according to the MODS’s nationwide business survey published in May 2026), up 9.3% from the previous year (1,261 trillion won). The figure exceeds half of total manufacturing industry revenue (53.1%)*.When it comes to structure and behavior, digital maturity, which refers to the level of organizations’ digital technology use and innovation, stood at 75.4%, up 10.8 percentage points from the previous year (64.6%). This simultaneous growth in both sales and innovation confirms that the shift toward a digital economy is spreading across industries as a whole.* Manufacturing revenue: 2,598 trillion won (the MODS’s nationwide business survey published in May 2026)The digital industry consists of 1) digital-based industries, 2) digital platform supply industries, 3) industries using digital intermediary platforms, and 4) digital-related industries. The analysis results for each industry are as follows. 1) Digital-based industries (Sales: 615.8 trillion won, 15.6%↑) Digital-based industries are industries that produce or supply digital infrastructure including equipment using digital technology and communications, and can be considered the conventional information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Thanks to the expansion of global AI investment and the increase in exports of ICT products such as semiconductors, digital-based industries recorded the highest sales revenue among the digital industry’s four major categories.2) Digital platform supply industries (Sales: 152.4 trillion won, 15.2%↑)Digital platform supply industries are industries that use digital technology to plan and supply content and to provide information services and intermediary functions. Sales in this category rose year-on-year, driven by the spread of AI and digitalization. The survey found that, based on each company’s primary revenue-generating business, platform providers whose primary revenue source was e-commerce platform services accounted for 29.0%, followed by portal services (23.3%) and video, audio, and information content services (22.4%). In terms of sales by revenue source, fees accounted for the largest share (42.6%), followed by direct purchase and sales (36.8%), advertising (9.8%), and subscription and usage fees (9.1%).3) Industries using digital intermediary platforms (Sales: 214.1 trillion won, 14.3%↑)Industries using digital intermediary platforms are industries where most demand for products and services relies on digital platforms, consisting of businesses that use digital intermediary platforms such as wholesale and retail, accommodation business, and foodservice. Sales in this category increased alongside those of digital platform supply industries. In particular, 91.9% of platform users used two or more platforms at the same time (with 46.4% using four or more). They cited the growing cost burden of listing on multiple platforms (60.2%) as their biggest challenge. Kiosk order (28.9%) and payment (26.2%) have become widespread in accommodation and foodservice businesses, while robot serving and customer service remain at an early stage with only 0.4% of adoption, indicating that on-site automation is still at an early stage.4) Digital-related industries (Sales: 396.1 trillion won, △3.1%)Digital-related industries are industries that use digital technology to produce and provide conventional industrial products and services through digital methods. They mainly consist of digital retail (45.8 trillion won) centered on self-operated online shopping malls, and digital finance and insurance services (350.2 trillion won) centered on non-face-to-face financial transactions. Notably, sales in this category decreased from the previous year. This is attributed to the fact that digital retail businesses, which had depended on their own sales channels, diversified into sales through digital intermediary platforms.Digital maturity, measured as the degree to which organizations use and innovate with digital technology, stood at 75.4%, up 10.8 percentage points from 64.6% the previous year. Looking at this by stage, “entry into and settlement of digitalization” — a stage in which organizations try out and experiment with digital technology in their operations before undergoing organization-wide digital transformation — accounted for 67.7%, while “entry into and settlement of digital transformation” — a stage in which digital innovation-driven organizations develop new services and products and respond swiftly to digital change — accounted for 7.7%. This indicates that overall digitalization levels have improved.* Digital maturity: The degree to which a company uses and innovates with digital technology at the organizational level. It is the sum of the percentages of companies in the entry into and settlement of digitalization stage and those in the entry into and settlement of digital transformation stage.**(The entry into and settlement of digitalization stage) 61.4% in 2023 → 67.7% in 2024(The entry into and settlement of digital transformation) 3.1% in 2023 → 7.7% in 2024An analysis of the status of digital technology development and adoption over the past three years showed that companies in the digital industry have developed in-house or introduced from outside cloud computing (52.0%), AI (43.5%), and big data (29.1%) technologies, in that order, while also hiring new employees with relevant expertise.This digitalization is part of a continuous progression from computerization to digital transformation (DX). Recently, the rate of utilizing AI technology in decision-making and business activities has reached 24.9%, up from 15.5% the previous year. In addition, AI accounted for 43.5% of the new digital technologies developed and adopted over the past three years. This confirms that AI transformation (AX) is deepening as part of the broader digitalization process.“The fact that digital industry sales have consistently grown by more than 100 trillion won each year clearly shows that digital transformation (DX) is actively spreading across our industries,” said Lee Do-kyu, Deputy Minister for ICT Policy at MSIT.“This trend is expected to accelerate further due to AX,” he continued adding, “In line with these changes, the government will systematically provide relevant policy support so that no one in our society is left behind in this transformation.”The results of 2025 Digital Industry Survey can be found on the MSIT (www.msit.go.kr) and KISDI (www.kisdi.re.kr) websites.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.

“Quantum Korea 2026” Takes Place, Offering an Overview of the Present and Future of Global Quantum Technology

2026.07.22

- Quantum Korea 2026 brings together 56 companies and institutions from 12 countries including domestic universities, government-funded research institutes, IBM, IonQ, Quandela, and Pasqal.- The event will serve as a quantum ecosystem platform that bridges exhibitions, policy, industry, standardization, academia, and international cooperation.- The event will feature a variety of programs ranging from keynote lectures by globally renowned scholars to public lectures and performances.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that it will host “Quantum Korea 2026” for three days, from July 2 to July 4, at the Art Hall of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). The event will bring together quantum science and technology researchers from home and abroad, related companies, and government representatives to provide an overview of global trends in research, industry, and policy within the quantum ecosystem.Quantum Korea, which was launched in 2023, has grown into Korea’s representative quantum event where governments, researchers, and leading quantum companies from around the world gather together to share the latest technologies and policies. Marking the 100th anniversary of quantum science last year, the event highlighted the potential for commercialization. This year, under the theme of “Quantum in Action, Grand Challenges for Innovation,” it focuses on how quantum technology is being implemented and applied in real research and industrial settings.This year, 56 companies and leading research teams from 12 countries around the world—which have developed various quantum computing technologies such as photons, neutral atoms, ion traps, and superconductors, and are creating innovative applications based on these advancements—will take part to showcase the frontier of quantum technology. At the same time, the event will advance further as a global quantum ecosystem platform that connects research outcomes with industry and society through programs on international collaboration, academic exchange, industrial application and standardization, and public engagement.■ [Opening Ceremony & Keynote Lectures] July 2 (Thu) 10:00–11:30 / DDP Art Hall 1, Main Stage (B2)The opening ceremony, held on the first day of the event, will be attended by approximately 300 people including delegations from countries around the world such as the EU, the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia, and key figures from industry, academia, and research institutions. Following an opening video that shows the present and future vision of quantum technology, the ceremony will feature an opening speech by Chairperson Kim Tae-hyun of the Quantum Korea Organizing Committee, a welcome speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, of MSIT, and congratulatory remarks from distinguished guests. The event will also honor the hard work of researchers and outstanding talent who have contributed to the advancement of the quantum field through awards for quantum science and technology development and awards for quantum information competition.In the keynote lectures that follow, globally renowned scholars leading the forefront of quantum research will share their insights and suggest the direction of future quantum technology. The keynote speakers include Professor Isaac Chuang of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is a pioneer who opened the era of quantum computing demonstration by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and implementing Shor’s algorithm*, which had previously existed only as a mathematical theory, in actual quantum hardware for the first time in the world. During this session, he will deliver a lecture titled “Quantum Engineering: A Systems Challenge.”* Shor’s algorithm: A key theory proposed by Peter Shor in 1994 that demonstrated that quantum computers can perform integer factorization overwhelmingly faster than conventional computersNext, Chair Professor Kim Myung-shik of Imperial College London will address the audience in a lecture titled “Quantum Technology: The story so far.” Professor Kim is a world-renowned scholar in the fields of quantum optics and quantum information science. He has contributed to the development of key theories in modern quantum technology including quantum information processing, quantum simulation, and error suppression. [International Research and Industry Exhibition] July 2 (Thu)–3 (Fri) / DDP Art Hall 1 and Art Hall 2 (B2)In line with this year’s slogan, “Quantum in Action, Grand Challenges for Innovation,” the exhibition features tangible industrial achievements demonstrating the real-world application of quantum technology as well as challenging, innovative research outcomes all in one place.In particular, in the field of quantum computing, the exhibition will display state-of-the-art quantum computers from global leaders such as IBM, Quandela, IonQ, and Pasqal, alongside core technologies and research achievements from Korea’s research teams including the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul National University, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).In the fields of quantum communications and sensing, at a time when cybersecurity is growing in importance amid threats such as those posed by advanced AI models like Mythos, the exhibition will showcase leading technologies such as quantum cryptographic communication and quantum internet developed by SKT, KT, and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). It will also unveil the world’s most precise atomic clock (quantum time sensor) by KRISS, and defense quantum sensing technology by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), which is expected to emerge as a core element of future defense through its application in military settings.In addition, alongside innovative technological achievements from rapidly growing Korean mid-sized companies and SMEs, including SDT Co., Ltd., Megazone Cloud, Withwave, and Korea Quantum Computing, and international exhibition booths organized by the Dutch, Canadian, and Australian embassies in Korea, a total of 56 global companies and institutions from 12 countries will unveil their latest research outcomes and products.In parallel, technology presentations by 16 participating companies and institutions will take place on the main stage of the exhibition hall (July 2–3), offering attendees the opportunity to hear directly from those driving quantum innovation, as well as strategies and visions for commercialization. [Quantum Frontiers Forum] July 2 (Thu)–3 (Fri) / DDP Conference Hall (B2)The “Quantum Frontiers Forum” is a program that brings together government officials and key figures from industry, academia, and research institutions around the world to discuss quantum policy, technology, industry, and standardization, and to seek opportunities for cooperation. Through this forum, Quantum Korea 2026 aims to establish itself as a platform for international cooperation.In the first session on policy, government representatives from countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, the EU, France, and Japan will 1) share their national quantum strategies and roadmaps, 2) explain each country’s specialized strategies for making efficient use of limited quantum computing resources and for supporting research, and 3) discuss practical cooperation measures such as research collaboration and infrastructure-sharing systems to complement one another through global partnership.In the second session on technology and industry, companies such as Quantinuum and PharmCADD will present how they are driving innovation by applying quantum technology to other industries such as chemistry and biotechnology. In addition, leading domestic and international companies including NVIDIA, IonQ, and IDQ Korea will introduce their latest technological innovations in quantum computing and communications.Amid the growing importance of international standards discussions covering compatibility, security, and performance certification across various quantum technology platforms, the final session will feature national standards research institutes from leading countries such as the US, the UK, and Germany sharing their standardization frameworks and use cases*.* The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the US, the National Physical Laboratory of the UK, and the National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB) [International Academic Conference] July 1 (Wed)–3 (Fri) / JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square SeoulDuring the event, the international academic conference “Conference on Quantum Information (CQI) 2026” will also be held. Running for three days under the theme “Think, Talk, Feel Quantum,” the conference will feature lectures and poster sessions by 28 leading researchers spanning the full range of quantum computing, communications, sensing, and convergence technologies, aiming to create academic synergy and expand partnerships among researchers in Korea and abroad. [Events for the Public] July 4 (Sat) / DDP Art Hall 1 and Art Hall 2 (B2)On July 4, the last day of the event, public programs will be held to give general visitors an opportunity to experience the world of quantum science, which can otherwise feel difficult, in an easy and fun way.In the morning, science communicator Orbit will deliver a public lecture, “The Mysterious Quantum Dictionary You Never Knew You Needed” (10:30-11:30), followed by the Talk Concert (11:30-12:30) hosted by star science creator Science Cookie and entertainer Heo Seong-beom.In the afternoon, five leading quantum experts from home and abroad, including Professor Park Kwon of the Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Professor Choi Joon-hee of Stanford University, Director Kim Ki-whan of the Institute for Basic Science, Professor Kim Se-jeong of Sungkyunkwan University, and Senior Researcher Lee Jung-hyun of KIST, will deliver lectures for SEBASI 15 (15 Minutes that Change the World, 13:00-15:00).In addition, Quantum Korea 2026 features a wide range of other programs such as Quantum Art Exhibition (by Ewha Womans University’s Center for Quantum Nanoscience), which visualizes qubits and quantum superposition, the play “Quantum Warfare” (July 2, Thu: 11:30-12:30, July 3, Fri: 12:00-13:00) which reinterprets the debates between Einstein and Bohr, and the participatory Science Magic Show (July 4, Sat). The event also offers the Quantum Lounge, a resting area where science, culture, and art blend together, offering visitors multisensory experiences. [Global Networking] Quantum Networking Reception (Luncheon) and Quantum BusinessNetworking Night (Banquet)In addition, Quantum Korea 2026 has arranged various opportunities for networking and collaboration. At the “Quantum Networking Reception” (July 2, Thu, 11:30, DDP Design Lab JandiSarangbang (4F)) that will be held right after the opening ceremony, Koo Hyuk-chae, 1st Vice Minister of Science and ICT, will welcome delegations from around the world as well as scholars and business leaders to foster connections and cooperation between domestic and international quantum ecosystems.On that same evening, the “Quantum Business Networking Night” (July 2, Thu, 18:30, Novotel Dongdaemun) will bring together approximately 200 participants including representatives from domestic and international quantum technology companies. As quantum technology moves beyond the laboratory and enters a phase of full-scale commercialization, this event is intended to foster close partnerships and business cooperation opportunities among companies.“Innovation in quantum technology is no longer a story of the distant future,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said, “It is already unfolding before our very eyes.” He also added “Quantum Korea 2026 is a meaningful occasion where you can witness the vivid scene of this bold challenge.”He went on to say, “The government is boldly expanding investment in national strategic technologies and new future industries, and among these, quantum is a core national strategic technology that will lead Korea’s future along with semiconductors and AI.” He also added, “The government will continue to move forward to become a nation that leads in quantum technology and industry through various policy support including Quantum Korea.”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.

Korean Government Moves to Prevent Identity Theft and Curbs the Use of Illegal Burner Phones

2026.07.08

- The government carries out a “Comprehensive Plan to Prevent the Fraudulent Use of Mobile Phones” through a “3+1” approach, where three preventive measures targeting identity theft, identity lending, and the misuse of corporate mobile phones, along with one post-activation measure to strengthen enforcement, will be implemented.- From July 6, phased implementation of the facial recognition system for mobile phone activation will begin.▣ ❶Strengthening identity authentication at the activation stage (through the introduction of a multi-factor authentication system) to prevent people from falling victim amid increasing personal information leaks and the advancement of forgery and alteration techniques.∙Following the pilot period, facial recognition will be implemented in phases beginning July 6 until the legal basis is established.- By incorporating recommendations from PIPC and NHRCK, alternative authentication methods to mobile ID cards and resident registration records will be provided to continuously improve the convenience and expand the use of such methods.- During the phased implementation period, if users opt for facial recognition, they must successfully complete facial recognition at least once out of three attempts.- Even if facial recognition fails, mobile phone activation will be permitted under certain conditions to minimize user inconvenience.∙The foreign ID verification system will be improved and mobile line activation requirements will be tightened (second half of 2026).▣ Strengthening measures to prevent ❷identity lending (“naeguje” phones) and ❸the misuse of corporate mobile phones∙Users will be informed that the use of illegal burner phones is subject to penalties, risk-based screening will be conducted, and high-risk sales channels will be managed more thoroughly (October).∙Corporate registration information will be cross-checked, while multiple line activations within a short period of time will be restricted (second half of 2026).▣ ❹Continuous crackdowns on mobile carriers and retail outlets, along with strict penalties for illegal activities∙Business suspension proceedings of three MVNOs and registration revocation proceedings against one VoIP service provider are underway (July).∙Targeted crackdowns focusing on vulnerable areas and corresponding penalties will be continued in the second half of this year. ➡ The government affirmed that it will do its utmost to ensure users’ right to choice and convenience through strengthened public awareness campaigns, close cooperation with relevant agencies, and continuous oversight and improvement, thereby preventing the use of illegal burner phones.[Relevant National Task] 23. Realizing a “Universal Basic AI Society” to enhance public safety anduniversal quality of life. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced a Comprehensive Plan to Prevent the Fraudulent Use of Mobile Phones on June 30 as part of the follow-up to the government-wide measures to combat voice phishing introduced in August 2025. Recognizing that mobile phones have evolved beyond simple communication devices to become essential tools for financial transactions (banking) and identity authentication, the plan focuses on developing tailored countermeasures* for different types of illegal mobile phone use and strengthening enforcement and sanctions against such activities.* ❶ Strengthening identity authentication at the activation stage (through the introduction of a multi-factor authentication system), ❷ Identity lending (so-called “naeguje” phones, meaning “phones that save me”), ❸ Strengthening measures against the misuse of corporate mobile phones ❹ Continuously inspecting mobile carriers and retail outlets and impose strict penalties for illegal activities1. Prevention of “Unauthorized Use by Others (Identity Theft)”: Strengthening Identity Authentication through Facial Recognition and Other MethodsAs there are growing concerns about identity theft crimes involving the acquisition of personal information through the theft or forgery of others’ ID or hacking, identity authentication procedures will be strengthened when activating a mobile phone.※ In 2025, authorities detected 20,000 illegal burner phones (known locally as “daepoppon”) and voice phishing losses reached 1.3 trillion won. Although these figures have been declining since October 2025 after the vigorous implementation of government-wide measures, it is important to prevent fraudulent mobile phone activation from the beginning as personal information breaches are increasing and the advancement of forgery and alteration techniques has made it easier to obtain and misuse others’ personal information.To this end, during the facial recognition pilot period (December 2025–June 2026), the system was applied across all channels (online and offline) of the three major mobile carriers and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to improve recognition accuracy. Additionally, the operational framework was reviewed through 308 designated retail stores, and security reviews* including checks for hacking vulnerabilities were conducted. In order to incorporate improvement recommendations from the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), and to minimize user inconvenience and confusion at sales locations, it was decided to implement facial recognition in phases starting July 6.* Currently, original facial recognition data is not stored or retained. The data is deleted immediately after the authentication process is completed. Vulnerabilities related to personal data leaks were not identified during preliminary inspections.During the phased implementation period beginning on July 6, if users opt for facial recognition, they can activate mobile phones after at least one successful facial recognition attempt (out of three) followed by subsequent procedures. Even if facial recognition fails, phone activation will still be permitted under certain conditions (conditional activation) to minimize user inconvenience. In this case, users should verify their identify through other means and the process should be recorded (including logs). In particular, reflecting the improvement recommendations from PIPC and NHRCK, alternative authentication methods will be provided to ensure users’ right to choice. Smartphone owners can authenticate through the mobile ID app provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) and those without smartphones (e.g., due to first-time activation or lost phones) may verify themselves using a copy of their individual registration (resident registration) record issued on the same day.In August, the government plans to review ways to enhance the multi-factor authentication system to improve user convenience (e.g., eliminating the need to visit community service centers) by presenting additional alternative measures. In September, it will integrate verification of the authenticity of resident registration records into the identity confirmation process. In October, it will conclude the strengthening and phased implementation of identity authentication procedures by amending the “Enforcement Decree of the Telecommunications Business Act” to clarify the legal basis for facial recognition. ▪ July 6 (Mon): The facial recognition system will be applied to three major mobile carriers and MVNOs across all channels (both online and offline).※ During the phased implementation period, even if facial recognition fails, phone activation will be permitted under certain conditions including the recording of relevant circumstances.※ The facial recognition system will initially apply to new mobile phone activations and number transfers. Simple device replacements within the same mobile carrier or MVNO are exempt, as users have already completed identity authentication.※ The government plans to stabilize the system as quickly as possible by offering incentives such as certification and rewards to high-performing retail outlets (as well as mobile carriers) and strengthening oversight through inspections and investigations for underperforming retail outlets and mobile carriers.▪ August: The government plans to consider similar practices such as the financial sector’s non-face-to-face identity authentication methods* and review ways to further enhance the multi-factor authentication system by continuously improving the convenience and expanding the use of alternative authentication methods.* A combination of at least two of the followings:① A copy of an ID card (including the holder’s name and address) ② Facial recognition and video calls③ Verification of an ID card during the delivery of access media (e.g., a bankbook or OTP) by mail ④ Bank account authentication ⑤ Others (biometric authentication)▪ September: In cooperation with MOIS (for system integration), the government will establish a system to verify the authenticity of resident registration records and maintain records of verification results.▪ October: The government will complete amendments to the “Enforcement Decree of the Telecommunications Business Act,” which include the one-strike-out principle and the legal basis for facial recognition. In addition, starting from November, the “Subscription Restriction Service (msafer.or.kr),” which previously had to be applied for by users, will be provided by default when a mobile phone service contract is signed (to prevent unwanted mobile phone activation). Meanwhile, for foreign nationals, the government plans to work with the Ministry of Justice to gradually enhance the foreign ID verification system. It also plans to further tighten the requirements for line activation through the “one person, one line” principle, while allowing additional lines only upon justification (from the second half of 2026).2. Prevention of “Unauthorized Transfer of Identity (Identity Lending)” The government also plans to prevent individuals with poor credit and vulnerable groups from falling victim to identity lending crimes such as so-called “naeguje” loans*, where people are lured with promises of loans or high-paying part-time jobs in exchange for lending their identities. The prevention measures include: requiring mobile carriers to inform customers that using burner phones is illegal and may result in criminal penalties, requiring them to fulfill their duty to prevent such crimes (October 2026), and restricting mobile phone activation for high-risk groups, such as those who activate multiple high-priced devices on installment plans within a short period.* “Naeguje” loans: A scheme that lures credit delinquents and vulnerable groups into activating a cell phone in exchange for a loan, and transferring the phone to criminals.3. Prevention of “Misuse of Corporate Phones”The government plans to implement measures to prevent the fraudulent activation of corporate mobile phones through the forgery or alteration of corporate documents, or the use of mobile phone lines activated under a corporate name by third parties who are not actual employees. The measures include: improving the system for verifying the authenticity of required documents, and requiring the registration of actual users for certain corporate mobile phone lines used by businesses with high default rates, and introducing a total line quota system (under which no more than four lines may be activated within a 180-day period) that limits the total number of lines, including newly activated and recently terminated lines.4. Continuous Crackdowns on Mobile Carriers and Retailers, and Strong Penalties for ViolationsMSIT (through its Central Radio Management Service or CRMS) has conducted joint inspections with the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) and the National Police Agency (NPA) from October 2025 to June 2026. Business suspension proceedings are underway against Youngjin Telecom, Chingu Inc, and Hanpass International after they were found to have engaged in fraudulent mobile phone activations. Registration revocation proceeding is also underway against Onsetelink for falsely displaying 02 and 070 numbers as post office customer service center number (1588-1300). The ministry plans to continue targeted crackdown by identifying vulnerable areas in the second half of this year, while reviewing the implementation of a reward system for reporting illegal burner phones to gradually improve the effectiveness of crackdowns on fraudulent mobile phone activations.“Given that burner phones are used as a key tool in various crimes affecting people’s daily lives, strengthening identity authentication at the activation stage can be the most effective preventive measure that protects people’s property and identities,” Choi Woo-hyuk, Director General of the Cyber Security and Network Policy Bureau at MSIT said. “We will do our utmost through public awareness campaigns and cooperation with relevant agencies to ensure users’ right to choice and convenience while effectively preventing the use of burner phones.”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.

2030 Blueprint Is Unveiled for AI-driven Manufacturing Transformation

2026.07.08

- The details of the “Path to Korea’s Manufacturing Transformation: Manufacturing AI 2030 Strategy,” devised with NAIS and relevant ministries, were unveiled.- The public and private sectors will make a joint investment worth 20 trillion won by 2030, with the aim of generating economic value of more than 100 trillion won.- The government will implement three key tasks: establishing a national system for managing and utilizing key manufacturing data, developing AI models specialized in manufacturing, and expanding the adoption of Manufacturing AI across regions.Amid growing concerns over South Korea’s manufacturing sector due to population decline and intensifying global competition, the government has launched its drive to revitalize manufacturing through AI. During the “Public Briefing on the Three Major Mega-Projects for Korea’s Great Leap Forward” held on June 29, the government unveiled the key details of the “Path to Korea’s Manufacturing Transformation: Manufacturing AI 2030 Strategy,” setting the stage for a grand transformation of manufacturing.While South Korea is competing fiercely with the United States and China to gain a competitive edge in overall AI technologies, it possesses flagship industries with global competitiveness such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, and automobiles, a tightly integrated value chain encompassing large, medium, and small enterprises across all industries, and the know-how of skilled workers accumulated on factory floors over decades. The government plans to foster South Korea’s manufacturing once again as a core growth engine leading the global market through “Manufacturing AX” by integrating AI into these manufacturing capabilities.This strategy is the result of about six months of discussions led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister: Kim Jung-kwan), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon), the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Minister: Han Seong-sook), and 23 private-sector experts from the Manufacturing Task Force under the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), in accordance with the “Korea’s AI Action Plan” announced last February.In particular, private-sector TF members from various fields including manufacturing companies, AI firms, universities, and research institutions actively participated in developing the strategy. Rather than simply providing advice or conducting reviews, they identified tasks based on industry demands and technology trends and drafted the detailed tasks to enhance the feasibility of the strategy and its acceptance across manufacturing sites.[Key Tasks]The government plans to closely collaborate with ministries involved in Manufacturing AI to accelerate three key tasks: establishing a national system for managing and utilizing key manufacturing data, developing AI models specialized in manufacturing, and expanding the adoption of Manufacturing AI across regions.As for manufacturing data that determines the quality of Manufacturing AI, the government will establish a “National Manufacturing Data Library” equipped with robust security and management systems to manage it at the national level. This library will integrate manufacturing data held and managed by each ministry, and will be managed under government leadership so as to prevent overseas data leakage and ensure that the value of specific companies’ assets (data) is not undermined when data is shared or transferred between companies.Using the technological capabilities accumulated through the establishment of manufacturing data and sovereign AI foundation models, the government aims to develop a “Manufacturing AI Foundation Model” that can be applied across the entire manufacturing sector. The government also has plans to build on source and foundational technologies for manufacturing physical AI including physics-based AI models, integration between heterogeneous equipment and robots in manufacturing processes, and logistics and supply chain optimization, to develop the “Full Stack AI Factory,” an intelligent factory where AI and robots work together to enable autonomous operations, into an exportable product.The government plans to rapidly expand the adoption of Manufacturing AI among SMEs and regional hub universities centered on industrial complexes where manufacturing companies are concentrated. This will enable dangerous manufacturing processes with frequent safety accidents to be replaced with AI, ultimately contributing to better working conditions. To this end, the government will expedite the establishment of the “M.AX Cluster” to transform industrial complexes which account for two-thirds of domestic manufacturing production and exports and half of all manufacturing employment into AI industrial complexes.[Implementation Strategy]Manufacturing AI is a challenging field that requires an understanding of both domain knowledge (the data and knowledge from the manufacturing sites) and AI algorithms. For this reason, the government plans to establish and implement a phased and systematic strategy: Foundation → Advancement → Adoption → Ecosystem Establishment.▴During the foundation phase of Manufacturing AI, the government will lay the groundwork for expanding Manufacturing AX by collecting manufacturing data and developing AI models and agents. The government will collect high-quality manufacturing data that is essential for the development of outstanding AI models and agents, and will also launch a large-scale project to capture and convert “manufacturing know-how” held by South Korea’s manufacturing masters (skilled workers) nearing retirement into data for training AI.This high-quality manufacturing data will be stored in the “Manufacturing AX Data Library,” which will be managed by the government. To keep the data in the library safe, the government will design and build standardization, encryption, and de-identification systems. Meanwhile, using the accumulated data, the government will also build various standard models in stages from lightweight AI models for specific processes to large-scale, general-purpose foundation models covering the entire manufacturing industry.▴In the Manufacturing AI advancement phase, the government will develop the “Full Stack AI Factory” technology, which integrates Manufacturing AI capabilities, including large-scale Manufacturing AI agents, humanoids, and manufacturing physical AI, into a single system. The government plans to develop a “large-scale AI agent” that controls and manages the full range of production and business activities in manufacturing from factory and product design, to verification and pilot production, to factory operations (production), to distribution and logistics, and expand both the development of core components for “manufacturing-specialized humanoids” and related demonstration projects. In parallel, the government will develop source and foundational technologies for manufacturing physical AI including physics-based AI models, integration between equipment and robots, low-latency, high-reliability communication networks, and full-lifecycle convergence security technologies covering models, agents, and control systems.▴In the Manufacturing AI expansion phase, the government will establish “M.AX Clusters” in each regional industrial complex to support the adoption of AI by local companies, and build shared infrastructure such as demonstration testbeds and edge computing centers for each complex. Furthermore, through measures such as the “Win-win AI Smart Factory Project” focusing on mutual prosperity, the government will draw on the cooperation of large companies to provide SMEs with Manufacturing AX methodologies. In order to foster AI Factories as an export industry, it will also develop support policies for deploying them overseas, taking into account the characteristics of target countries and companies.▴In the Manufacturing AI ecosystem development phase, the government will expand private investment in Manufacturing AX, foster specialized companies in the field, and nurture talent. First, the government will make active use of funds and guarantees to foster private investment and will actively coordinate with investment from the 150 trillion-won National Growth Fund. It will also introduce a “Manufacturing AX Certification” system to foster companies specialized in Manufacturing AI, while establishing master’s and doctoral programs for developing core Manufacturing AI technologies and education programs for field workers who will play a leading role in the widespread adoption of AI at manufacturing sites. Lastly, to implement these plans in a systematic manner, the government plans to establish a legal basis* while strengthening cooperation with relevant agencies.* Amendments to the “Act on the Promotion of Industrial Digital Transformation and the Utilization of AI” and the “Act on Facilitation of Smart Manufacturing Innovation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises”“This Manufacturing AI 2030 Strategy is a meaningful achievement as the commitment made last October by MSIT, MOTIR, and MSS to work as one team for manufacturing and industrial AX has evolved into a full-fledged implementation strategy,” MSIT Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said. “Rather than simply integrating AI into factories, Manufacturing AI must evolve into a stage where AI understands the physical phenomena and process flows on the factory floor and autonomously decides and controls equipment and robots,” he continued, “To achieve this, it is essential to secure source and foundational technologies for manufacturing physical AI including not only manufacturing data but also physics-based AI models, world models, autonomous factory operation platforms based on collaboration between equipment and robots, on-device computing, and full-lifecycle security technologies.” He also said, “We will actively support efforts to ensure that core AI technological capabilities are integrated with manufacturing so that Manufacturing AI can evolve into a technology that operates in real manufacturing environments.”“M.AX or AI transformation in manufacturing is an essential task that will determine the future competitiveness and survival of our manufacturing sector. Now is time for the public and private sectors to work together to make bold investments and take bold action,” MOTIR Minister Kim said. “Since this plan was devised after six months of intense discussions among relevant government agencies and private-sector experts, it is important for each ministry to implement tasks with a sense of responsibility, so that these tasks can go beyond being just a report and generate tangible value in the real world.” He continued, “For AI to be used on the manufacturing site, accurate inference results must be provided through verification based on on-site data,” adding, “Through the M.AX Alliance, MOTIR will support better decision-making by various stakeholders including manufacturing companies, AI firms, universities, and research institutions, thereby contributing to safer and more efficient manufacturing sites and a more prosperous future.”“The AI transformation of SMEs, which account for 99.6% of all manufacturing companies, is a prerequisite for Korea’s Manufacturing AX,” MSS Vice Minister Roh Yong-seok said, “MSS will further enhance smart factory support policies through win-win cooperation between large companies and SMEs as well as cooperation among SMEs to expedite AX across SME manufacturing sites.” He also said, “While establishing a system to support Manufacturing AI companies in growing from the startup through investment to global expansion, we will also foster AI experts to continuously strengthen SMEs’ capabilities for AI use.”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.

Creative Ideas from Youth Shape the Future of Korea’s Science and Technology and ICT

2026.07.02

- MSIT launched the 3rd 2030 Youth Advisory Group.- The Advisory Group began its roles as a key policy partner for MSIT.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that it held the launch ceremony for the 3rd MSIT 2030 Youth Advisory Group (“the Advisory Group”) on June 22 at the Government Complex Sejong to reflect the perspectives of younger generations in science and technology, ICT, and AI policymaking and strengthen policy communication with future generations.* The Advisory Group is a youth-participation policy body operated by ministry-level central administrative agencies. It conveys young people’s perspectives on major policies of each ministry and helps identify new policy ideas.The Advisory Group is responsible for making proposals on science and technology and ICT policies, collecting and conveying the viewpoints of young people, and developing policy ideas. Its members were selected in April through open recruitment followed by document screening and interviews. The group consists of 21 young people from industry, academia, and research institutes including university students studying science and engineering, researchers, and startup founders who have an interest in and ideas for MSIT policies. The newly selected members are expected to gather diverse opinions and voices from younger generations, convey them to MSIT, and offer diverse perspectives from the viewpoints of young people.The launch ceremony began with welcome remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae, followed by the presentation of a certificate of appointment to Lee Mu-geun, the newly appointed youth advisor and head of the Advisory Group and the presentation of appointment letters to the Advisory Group members. After the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae had a luncheon meeting with the Advisory Group members who freely shared the challenges they have experienced in the field and their aspirations for the future.After listening to the voices of the members, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said, “I believe that the more AI takes over human tasks, the more the world will ultimately be changed by ‘the questions, experiences, and creative ideas that only humans can have,’ something even generative AI cannot imitate.” He added, “Amid this era of AI transformation, I hope the members of the 2030 Youth Advisory Group candidly share the experiences and voices that only they can offer and serve as a strong bridge connecting policy and society.” He also referred to the Advisory Group as a key policy partner of the ministry, saying “The Advisory Group is a key policy partner connecting our ministry with future generations. I sincerely hope that the Advisory Group will help design the future of Korea’s science and technology and ICT together with us.” He added, “The government will continue to meet with young people more frequently and engage in active discussions so that perspectives of younger generations can naturally be incorporated into the overall policies across science and technology, and ICT.”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.

Physical AI Enters the Real World: The Second Phase of Physical AI Launches

2026.07.02

- The second phase of the Physical AI Alliance was reorganized into an action-oriented structure based on key tasks identified during the first phase.- The Alliance’s second phase has begun full operation as a ‘Physical AI Total Solution Platform’ to secure K-Physical AI Full Stack and accelerate deployment and adoption across all industries.- The Alliance also aims to connect technology development outcomes with real-world demand in cooperation with relevant ministries and industry alliances. [Relevant National Task] 22. Securing “unmatched” frontier technologies and talent in artificial intelligence (AI).The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) held a launch ceremony for the second phase of the Physical AI Alliance at The Plaza Seoul (Grand Ballroom) on June 19, attended by representatives from industry, academia, and research institutes, associations, and organizations on the physical AI sector.For the ceremony, around 200 participants joined to support the launch of the Alliance’s second phase. The participants include Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae, National Assembly members Chung Dong-young, Choi Hyung-du, and Hwang Junga, Chairman Joh Joon-hee of Korea AI·Software Industry Association (KOSA), the heads of the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), and the National Information Society Agency (NIA), officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), and representatives from industry, academia, research institutes, associations, and related organizations.The global AI race is rapidly expanding beyond screen-based generative AI to physical AI that operates in the real world, and physical AI is emerging as a key driver that boosts productivity and efficiency across major industries such as manufacturing, autonomous driving, shipbuilding, healthcare, and defense.As part of efforts to proactively respond to this global trend, MSIT launched the first phase of the Physical AI Alliance last September. As the starting point for public-private cooperation in physical AI, the Alliance identified industrial needs and challenges, discussed policy directions, and set out key tasks to foster Korea’s domestic physical AI ecosystem. This marked an important first step in recognizing physical AI as a next-generation strategic technology and establishing an initial foundation for coordinated public-private action.However, to seize the “golden time” of gaining competitive edge in physical AI, the Alliance needs to move beyond policy proposals and discussions toward an “action-oriented cooperation system” that connects actual technology development to industrial application, standardization, and security. In particular, physical AI is not a technology that can be realized through AI models alone. It requires the integration of data, semiconductors, software, communication networks, and computing infrastructure to operate properly in real industrial settings. Therefore, a public-private cooperation system that organically connects industrial data and field experience from demand-side companies, technical capabilities from suppliers, universities, and research institutions, and policy and institutional support from the government is essential.Building on the cooperative foundation and key outcomes established during the first phase, MSIT has launched the second phase of the Alliance to further strengthen this public-private cooperation system and serve as a “Physical AI Total Solution Platform” that supports the entire cycle from technology development to real-world application, implementation, and operation. The second phase of the Alliance focuses on three key directions.First, securing a “K-Physical AI Full Stack.” The focus is to reduce dependence on foreign solutions while integrating domestic AI semiconductors, AI models, software, robots and sensors, and computing infrastructure to secure proprietary core physical AI technologies.Second, advancing toward a “Physical AI Total Solution Platform.” Moving beyond cooperation centered on model and solution development, the second phase of the Alliance will expand its function into a full-cycle cooperation platform encompassing communication networks, system integration, data centers, security, standardization and certification, and operations to ensure that developed physical AI technologies can be deployed and adopted in real industrial settings.Third, expanding across industries beyond manufacturing. As physical AI is a general-purpose technology that is not restricted to manufacturing only, it can also be applied to a wide range of industries including logistics, agriculture, healthcare, defense, public administration, and disaster safety. The second phase of the Alliance will serve as a higher-level cooperation platform connecting industry demand to technology providers’ capabilities.To support these goals, MSIT has swiftly reorganized the operating structure of the Alliance. The Alliance will adopt a co-chair system jointly led by MSIT and KOSA to more closely connect government policy support with private-sector implementation capabilities and enhance the Alliance’s ability for operation.In addition, the Alliance will streamline its existing ten subcommittees (five ecosystem-based and five domain-based subcommittees) into three core divisions. In line with the goals of “domestic technological self-reliance” and “expansion across all industries,” the new structure consists of the K-Physical AI Full Stack Division (technology self-reliance), the Vertical Industry Bridge Division (domain expansion), and the Foundational Governance Division (standards and security). Action groups will be established under each division to identify tasks and develop projects.MSIT has also significantly expanded the range of participating associations and organizations of the Alliance to support the full cycle from physical AI technology development to real-world implementation and operation. Now, twelve associations and organizations will participate, including KOSA, the Korea Physical AI Association, the Korea Association of AI Robot Industry (KAR), the Physical AI & Manufacturing Association (PAMA), the Korea Fabless Industry Association (KFIA), the Korea IT Service Industry Association (ITSA), the Korea Data Center Council (KDCC), the Korea Association for AI & ICT Promotion (KAIT), the Korea Information Security Industry Association (KISIA), the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA), the 6G Forum, and the AI Network Alliance (AINA), supporting the physical AI cooperation system throughout its full lifecycle.Each association and organization will collaborate based on its specialized expertise in areas such as AI model and software development, robot·sensor·edge device integration, AI semiconductor design, system integration and deployment, high-performance computing resource supply, stable low-latency network support, security requirements, and standardization and interoperability verification.The Physical AI Alliance will also work closely with relevant government ministries and related alliances. The Alliance will serve as a higher-level cooperation platform that connects suppliers of core technologies with industry demand across all sectors. It will also coordinate with industry-specific alliances to help translate technology development outcomes into real industrial applications.As for manufacturing, the Alliance will cooperate with the M.AX Alliance to connect the technologies and project outcomes identified and achieved through the Physical AI Alliance with industrial demand, and to drive their demonstration and broader deployment. Through this effort, the government aims to build a public-private cooperation ecosystem that ensures the full cycle from technology development to real world applications so that physical AI technology supply and industrial demand cannot be disconnected.Ahead of the main ceremony, attendees watched technology demonstrations by domestic physical AI companies. The demonstrations highlighted how rapidly the core elements of physical AI such as robotic intelligence, field data, and autonomous decision-making and action technologies are advancing. RLWRLD, a physical AI company, demonstrated a highly sophisticated technology in which two robots cooperated to pack computer mice and place them in designated locations. The demonstration showed that its next-generation physical AI model, “RLDX-1*,” is a general-purpose model not limited to specific hardware, while also demonstrating world-class technology capable of controlling delicate fingertip force in real time.*The RLDX-1 scored 70.6 on RoboCasa Kitchen, a global benchmark, becoming the first to break the 70-point mark, and ranked first on the Tabletop benchmark for humanoid robots, outperforming Nvidia’s latest model, GROOT N1.6 by 10.7 percentage points.Maum AI also showcased its technological achievements across the physical AI workflow, from world model-based AI training to on-device execution and application in finished robots. The company exhibited “MAIED,” an autonomous intelligence module capable of perception and decision-making within physical AI devices without relying on the cloud, and “Jindobot,” a quadruped robot platform. Through these exhibitions, Maum AI demonstrated the potential of on-device physical AI technology that enables robots to recognize their surroundings, understand conversations and commands, and perform tasks such as patrol and safety management.“When the Physical AI Alliance was first launched last September, physical AI was still an unfamiliar concept to many people, but in less than a year it has emerged as a central paradigm in global AI competition,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said. “To stay ahead in the physical AI race, we must secure proprietary technological capabilities and the foundation for industrial expansion,” he added.“This reorganization is meaningful because the Physical AI Alliance has evolved into a ‘Physical AI Total Solution Platform’ that connects technology development outcomes to real-world applications and feeds the data and demand generated in the field back into further technology development,” he emphasized.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.

Korea-ASEAN AI Cooperation: High-Performance Computing (HPC) Infrastructure Opens in Indonesia

2026.07.29

- Successful establishment of HPC infrastructure in Indonesia, where the ASEAN Secretariat is located, to support ASEAN countries lacking advanced AI infrastructure environments.【Related National Agenda Items】 23. Jointly Realizing an 'AI-for-All Society' through international cooperation 120. Achieving a G7+ diplomatic leadership through contributions and participation in the international community The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyonghoon) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, Minister Cho Hyun), together with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI, led by President Lee Sik), announced that they held an official opening ceremony at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) of Indonesia to celebrate the completion of the High Performance Computing (HPC) Infrastructure establishment project, which has been pursued as part of the Korea-ASEAN digital cooperation. This project took its first step in 2024 with the support of the Korea-ASEAN Cooperation Fund (KACF) (a total of USD 10 million, or approximately KRW 14.7 billion won, over four years from 2024 to 2028). For the past two years, extensive efforts have been made to share Korea's advanced digital technology and HPC construction and operation expertise with ASEAN. HPC infrastructure is a key resource essential for large-scale data analysis and large language AI model training; however, nine ASEAN member states, except Thailand and Singapore, lack HPC infrastructure. The infrastructure established this time is a high-performance supercomputer capable of approximately 4.2 PF*, and it is expected to act as a catalyst driving the data utilization ecosystem not only in Indonesia but across the entire ASEAN region. * PetaFLOPS (PF): A unit of computer performance equal to one quadrillion operations per second. The project will also provide invitational training and technical education for local operating personnel (targeting approximately 160 people until 2028) and establish a localized version of the National Science and Technology Information Service (NTIS), a platform operated by KISTI. This will support ASEAN in independently operating and developing the infrastructure. Furthermore, as this project extensively incorporated Korea's excellent HPC software and solutions, domestic AI semiconductors, and security technologies, Korean AI and digital companies have secured a tangible track record to enter the ASEAN market in the future. Kim Kyung-man, Head of the Office of AI Policy, said, “The launch of Indonesia’s high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure marks a meaningful step toward realizing President Lee Jae Myung’s vision for the Korea-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) - one in which Korea shares its AI innovation capabilities with its ASEAN neighbors and grows together with them.” “We will provide strong policy support for follow-up cooperation with ASEAN, including technology exchanges and joint research, so this initiative can further strengthen Korea’s digital presence in the region and serve as a foundation for Korea to lead multilateral cooperation on AI,” he added. * The Korea-ASEAN CSP envisions Korea as a Contributor for dreams and hope, a Springboard for growth and innovation), a Partner for peace and stability. 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.

MSIT Partners with Anthropic for Global AI Safety and Security

2026.06.29

- MSIT has signed an MOU with Anthropic, a global AI frontier company.- The ministry has expanded its robust ‘global AI cooperative belt’ spanning AI infrastructure, technology, and safety by adding Anthropic to its partnerships with OpenAI, Nvidia, and Google DeepMind. [Relevant National Task] 23. Realizing a “Universal Basic AI Society” to enhance public safety and universal quality of life.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Anthropic, a global AI research and development company, to cooperate on AI safety and cybersecurity.Under this MOU, MSIT plans to further strengthen cooperation with Anthropic to secure advanced AI safety, which includes in-depth analysis of AI’s impact on cyber attacks and defense, evaluations of AI model safety and misuse risk in the context of the Korean language, and red team evaluations of autonomous AI agents.This MOU was pursued as a follow-up measure after Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae discussed cooperative measures with Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in February 2026.In tandem with the agreement, Anthropic officially opened its Korea office on June 17 — its fourth in Asia, following Japan, India, and Australia — as a key foothold and strategic hub in the region. This once again demonstrates that Korea’s competitive AI technology capabilities and solid industrial ecosystem make it an attractive strategic location on the global stage.With this, the government has completed its cooperative network with global AI big tech firms, following partnerships with Nvidia, the backbone of AI infrastructure, OpenAI, known for its frontier models, and Google DeepMind, with world’s leading research capabilities, now joined by Anthropic, which emphasizes safety- and trust-centered AI, establishing Korea as a key partner nation in the global AI landscape.After signing MOU, Lee Do-kyu, Deputy Minister for ICT Policy at MSIT, met with Chris Ciauri, Anthropic’s Managing Director of International, to discuss ways to cooperate on AI safety and cybersecurity.On AI safety, the two sides agreed that Korea’s AI Safety Institute (AISI) and Anthropic will actively work together to secure AI safety through AI model and autonomous AI agent safety evaluations. On cybersecurity, they agreed to cooperate on identifying AI vulnerabilities, including in the financial sector, and rapidly sharing professional knowledge and relevant information about cyber threats.“In the global AI market, the next two to three years are a battleground and a golden time that will determine AI dominance,” Deputy Minister Lee said. “This cooperation with Anthropic, a global AI frontier company, will serve as a strong driving force that broadens Korea’s AI innovation and adds dynamism, built on the solid foundation of safety and security.”“Korea is one of Anthropic’s most important markets in the Asia Pacific region,” Managing Director Ciauri said. “This MOU is highly meaningful as it lays a long-term cooperative foundation in Korea. Partnering with government agencies that share our value of safe and responsible AI development is key to how we operate,” he added. “We look forward to further advancing this partnership together with Korea’s AI ecosystem.”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.

AISI and OpenAI Sign MOU to Strengthen Cooperation on AI Safety

2026.06.29

- AISI and OpenAI agreed to establish a cooperative framework to ensure the safety of frontier AI models in high-risk areas. [Relevant National Task] 23. Realizing a “Universal Basic AI Society” to enhance public safety and universal quality of life.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that, in order to help ensure the safety of frontier AI, the AI Safety Institute (AISI, Director: Kim Myung-joo) and OpenAI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 17 at the Seoul office of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) to strengthen cooperation on AI safety in high-risk areas.This MOU aims to expand the AI cooperation framework that MSIT and OpenAI built through the MOU signed last October into the areas of AI safety. It was made possible based on AI safety cooperation measures discussed during two meetings this year between the Second Vice Minister of MSIT and senior OpenAI officials, and is intended to formally launch practical cooperation between AISI and OpenAI.Through this MOU, AISI and OpenAI agreed to continuously cooperate by sharing knowledge and best practices on safety evaluation methodologies and benchmarks for each high-risk area, exchanging technical information to develop an evaluation framework reflecting the Korean language and Korea’s social context, and establishing internationally applicable AI safety evaluation standards.This marks OpenAI’s fourth AI safety-related agreement with a national AI safety institute, following agreements with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. This MOU is expected to further strengthen Korea’s role in the international cooperation network for validating risks and establishing evaluation standards for frontier AI.“It’s time to strengthen cooperation with leading global companies and advance AI safety evaluation frameworks to secure the safety of frontier AI models such as high-performance AI and autonomous agent AI,” Lee Jin-soo, an artificial intelligence policy planning officer at MSIT, said. “We hope this MOU will serve as an opportunity for both institutions to actively work together to ensure the safety of frontier AI by responding to rapidly evolving global AI technologies and usage environments.”“As AI’s impact on critical national infrastructure and security grows, rigorous safety evaluation in high-risk areas is becoming a must, not a choice,” Kim Myung-joo, Director of AISI, said “Through this MOU, AISI will work with OpenAI to scientifically validate the risks of frontier AI and contribute to building an internationally applicable evaluation framework.” “Korea is an important country where the use and innovation of AI technologies are advancing rapidly, and AISI is playing an important role in international discussions on responsible AI development,” Lee Sang-hyun, OpenAI’s Asia-Pacific policy lead, said “We believe this cooperation will serve as a meaningful opportunity to share knowledge and best practices on AI safety evaluation in high-risk areas and to contribute to the development of trustworthy AI, and the creation of a safe use environment.”As a next step following the MOU, AISI and OpenAI plan to hold working-level meetings to finalize specific cooperative tasks and schedules.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.

Korea Begins Development of International Standards for Artificial Intelligence and 6G Security

2026.07.29

- Approval of 14 new work items proposed by Korea, consent for seven international standards, and final approval of eight items (international standards and technical reports)【Related National Policy Task】 23-4. Establishing a Robust Digital Security and Safety Framework for the AI Era The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyunghoon) announced that, at the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Study Group 17 (SG17) meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 1 to 10 (Head of the Delegation: Professor Yeom Heung-yeol of Soonchunhyang University), 14 new work items proposed by Korea were approved, seven international standards received consent, and six international standards and two technical reports received final approval. ※ Standardization Process: New Work Item (NWI) → Standard development → Consent → Circulation among ITU Members → Final approval The meeting brought together approximately 477 experts from 60 member countries, participating both in person and online. Korea was represented by 59 international information security standardization experts from industry, academia, and research institutes, who engaged in extensive discussions to incorporate 64 information security technologies Korea proposed into international standards. In particular, a number of companies* joined the Korean delegation to help incorporate their proprietary technologies into international standards. * Approximately 10 companies, including KIWONTECH, eSTORM, iSciLab, i.Nsoft, FNSVALUE, RaonSecure, DualAuth, PotatoNet, Hyundai AutoEver, Hyundai Motor Company, and KT. Korea successfully led the approval of 14 new standardization items at this meeting, including: Security framework for vertical IoT devices using multimodal AI systems; Technical security controls for IMT-2030* networks; Age assurance systems: Technical approaches and guidance for implementation; Security requirements of decentralized identity interoperability across artificial intelligence agents; Security framework for Physical AI Systems; and Requirements for Collection and Detection of Malicious URLs in Cyber Threat Intelligence. * International Mobile Telecommunications (6G networks) In addition, seven items that Korea has taken the lead in developing over the years were pre-adopted as international standards, including: Security requirements for AI systems; Security framework for detecting targeted email attacks; and Guidelines for Zero trust model and its security capabilities in telecommunication networks. Furthermore, six international standards, including Security threats targeting the software supply chain and Security guidelines for distributed ledger technology (DLT) based digital collection services*, as well as two technical reports, including the Standardization roadmap for DLT security, received final approval. * A system where transaction ledger data is jointly recorded and managed by participants rather than a central server. At the previous SG17 plenary session (held virtually on April 9, 2026), a new study question dedicated to AI security (Q16, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Security) was introduced, incorporating the scope of research proposed by Korea (such as physical AI security). At this session, Korea actively demonstrated its commitment to leading the development of international standards by submitting multiple contributions related to AI security. Moreover, the security requirements for IMT-2030 (6G) mark the first 6G international standard developed within the ITU-T, and it is expected to serve as crucial data regarding security technology when selecting candidate 6G technologies in the future. ※ Q16 Co-Chairs: Na Jae Hoon (Korea, Special fellow researcher at ETRI), Oscar Avellandeda (Canada), Xiongwei Jia (China)※ Q16 Co-Vice Chairs: Park Keun Dug (Korea, Professor at Seoul University of Foreign Studies), Marcos Tzannes (USA), Naying Hu (China), Takeshi Takahashi (Japan) Lim Jeong-gyu, Director General of the Cyber Security and Network Policy Bureau at the MSIT, said, "As AI expands into various industrial sectors, developing international cyber security standards is essential to creating reliable and safe AI. Through this meeting, Korea demonstrated that it is leading key security technology sectors, such as AI, 6G, digital identity, and supply chain security." 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.

MSIT Launches Project to Localize Core Physical AI Technologies

2026.06.22

- MSIT launched the kickoff briefing for the “Development of Leading Technologies in Physical AI” project on June 9.- Korea’s ten representative industry-academia-research organizations including LG Electronics have joined forces to develop core physical AI technologies including a world model and a robot foundation model with the goal of positioning Korea as a global leader in physical AI.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP, President: Hong Jin-bae) announced on June 9 at LG Sciencepark in Magok, Seoul that they held a kickoff briefing for the “Development of Leading Technologies in Physical AI” project. The project aims to localize key AI technologies that have been heavily dependent on foreign technologies and to lay the foundation for Korea to emerge as a global leader in physical AI.“Physical AI” is one of the core missions of the “K-Moonshot” project, an AI-driven national innovation project launched by the government early this year. Physical AI is gaining growing attention as a future technology that is expected to transform all areas including defense, agriculture, caregiving, manufacturing, services, and as a national strategic technology directly linked to data sovereignty and national security.In particular, physical AI requires extensive training and validation in virtual environments before deployment, because it operates in the real world where any accident could directly result in human casualties. The core infrastructure that makes this possible is the “world model,” which supports AI training and decision-making by predicting changes in the world. It also serves as a platform that generates synthetic data at scale to support the advancement of physical AI.However, Korea’s physical AI ecosystem has so far relied heavily on foreign simulation platforms. As part of efforts to overcome this challenge, MSIT has launched this project with the aim of securing proprietary world model source technologies, validating associated domestic simulator technologies, and ultimately developing a next-generation physical AI foundation model based on domestic technologies.Under the lead of LG Electronics, this project brings together nine industry-academia-research organizations with Korea’s top-tier technologies and capabilities, including Maum AI, Holiday Robotics, Robotis, Crowdworks, Alchera, KT, KAIST, Seoul National University (SNU), and the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA). These ten entities will work closely together, drawing on their respective expertise. MSIT plans to accelerate research and development by investing a total of 34 billion won over two years starting this year, with the goal of achieving world-class performance in the shortest possible timeframe.More specifically, MSIT plans to maximize the world model’s ability to simulate real-world conditions* and its transfer performance to robot foundation models**, with the goal of improving the success rate of actual robot operations by more than 20 %p compared to cases where no world model is applied. This is an ambitious target that surpasses the current global best of 14.5 %p, achieved by OpenGVLab.* Long-term video generation capability (considering physical consistency, cognitive accuracy, and predictive consistency) and physical common sense ** Measuring the success rate of tasks completed when robots trained in simulated environments are tested in real-world settingsTo this end, the government plans to establish a demonstration pipeline consisting of “world model training → integration with robot foundation model → demonstration and performance evaluation → case analysis and retraining” within the shortest possible time. The project will further improve the technology’s maturity through four rounds of repeated validation over two years. In the final stage, demonstrations will be conducted at actual manufacturing and logistics sites beyond laboratory settings to produce outcomes that can be commercially viable.During the kickoff briefing, before the main discussion began, physical AI robots developed by LG Electronics and Robotis (CLOiD and AI Worker) gained attention by interacting with participants and greeting them with fist bumps.After the demonstration, LG Electronics, the lead institution for the project, shared its research objectives and implementation plans, followed by presentations on the roles of each participating research organization and detailed collaborative strategies. Afterwards, MSIT held in-depth discussions with the research organizations on policy support measures and directions to help Korea advance into a physical AI powerhouse. “Physical AI is a key national technology that will transform Korea’s paradigm,” Ryu Je-myung, Second Vice Minister of MSIT, said. “Securing core physical AI infrastructure with our own technology is the starting point for Korea to become a global physical AI powerhouse”.“Now that large companies, startups, universities, and research institutes with Korea’s top-tier capabilities have joined forces, I expect them to develop globally competitive technologies,” he added. He also referred to the development of TDX in the past, stating “Just as researchers achieved the localization of telephone exchange systems with a strong sense of mission and commitment, I believe Korea can take a leading position in physical AI if we approach the project with the same determination.” “The government will mobilize all of its policy capabilities to fully support research efforts so that challenges and innovations in the field can be translated into tangible results as quickly as possible,” he added.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.

MSIT Expands Strategic Technology Cooperation with Belgium and the EU

2026.07.29

- Encourage Korean researchers at imec, one of the world’s leading research institutions- Discuss Korea’s achievements during its first year as a Horizon Europe associated country and ways to expand Korea-EU cooperation in AI for Science, quantum technologies and advanced biotechnology as well as researcher exchanges【Related National Policy Task】 System innovation to make Korea one of the world’s top five science and technology powers The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon, agreed to expand cooperation in science and technology, AI and digital technologies on the occasion of President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Belgium and the European Union. [ Key Issues Discussed at the Korea-EU Summit ](Excerpts from the Joint Statement) • AI : Cooperate on AI adoption and innovation, promote intergovernmental cooperation on AI governance and strengthen collaboration on AI safety and trust • Digital : Advance research, regulatory and industrial cooperation across all areas of digital policy under the Korea-EU Digital Partnership • Research and Innovation : Review the achievements of Korea’s association with Horizon Europe and consider Korea’s participation in the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation • Researcher Exchanges : Continue academic exchanges through the Marie Skłodowska-Cuire Actions (MSCA) • Deep-tech startups : Support and cooperate in the global expansion of startups from Korea and the EU As his first engagement in Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister Bae attended a dinner meeting with Korean researchers working at imec, a world-leading semiconductor, AI and quantum computing research institution based in Leuven, Belgium. He commended the researchers for working at the forefront of global technological innovation and heard their views on ways to strengthen research cooperation between Korea and Belgium. * imec (Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre) is an international semiconductor R&D institution established in 1984. Deputy Prime Minister Bae also held a separate meeting with Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. The two sides reviewed Korea’s achievements during its first year as a Horizon Europe associated country and agreed to expand cooperation across a wide range of areas. These include research collaboration in AI for Science, advanced biotechnology and quantum technologies, as well as greater exchanges of researchers in science and engineering. Horizon Europe is the EU’s largest research and innovation programme, administered by the European Commission. Since becoming the first Asian country to join the programme as an associated country last year, Korea has secured participation in numerous research projects and significant research funding within a relatively short period. Korean researchers have been selected to participate in key projects alongside institutions with world-class research capabilities, including Imperial College London, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Wageningen University. These projects cover advanced digital and strategic technologies such as advanced biotechnology and precision medicine, as well as clean hydrogen and carbon-neutral technologies. These achievements demonstrate the world-class research capabilities of Korean researchers. The European Commission also expressed strong interest in Korea’s continued participation as an associated country in the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. * To date, 33 research teams involving Korean researchers have been selected through competitive calls. Based on the 15 projects for which grant agreements have been completed, Korean participants are expected to secure approximately EUR 8.65 million, or KRW 15.25 billion, in research funding. The two sides also discussed ways broaden Korea-EU cooperation in science and technology. Deputy Prime Minister Bae proposed cooperation on AI-powered research and scientific data sharing through the National AI Research Center for Science (NAIS), a key pillar of Korea’s K-Moonshot Strategy. He also highlighted the need to expand international joint research in advanced biotechnology and research-based internships in the quantum field. The two sides further agreed to strengthen exchanges among outstanding researchers through initiatives including the Korea-EU European Research Council (ERC) researcher exchange programme and the Marie Skłodowska-Cuire Actions. * The European Research Council is the EU’s most prestigious funding body for frontier research. Korea plans to support science and engineering exchange programmes for European researchers selected fro ERC grants.** The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is an EU programme supporting researcher mobility and research training Building on the discussions, Korea and the EU agreed to continue developing concrete areas of cooperation through channels including the Korea-EU Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, scheduled for the second half of 2026. 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.

Public and Private Sectors Jointly Respond to AI Cyber Threats: MSIT Announces Plan for Private-sector Information Security against AI-driven Cyber Threats

2026.06.22

- Public and private sectors join forces to respond to AI-driven cyber threats and make all-out efforts to establish AI security sovereignty.- Government ministries responsible for the private sector will operate a coordinated response system centered on MSIT.- Key companies will strengthen security readiness, while SMEs will reinforce cybersecurity fundamentals.【Relevant National Tasks】23-4. Establish a robust digital security framework to support the AI era The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced the “Draft Action Plan for Private-sector Information Security against AI-driven Cyber Threats” at the 9th Science and Technology-related Ministers’ Meeting on May 29.Recently, US big tech companies have drawn attention by launching projects that provide only selected companies with access to AI models equipped with cybersecurity capabilities comparable to those of security experts. According to Anthropic’s first report on Project Glasswing released on May 23, more than 16,000 vulnerabilities were identified across participating companies’ software systems and open sources.※ The Korean government’s response: 1) Issued security notices on two vulnerabilities that could affect Korea after analyzing 88 publicly disclosed vulnerabilities and shared the information with public, private, and military sectors (May 24).2) Requested Chief Information Protection Officers (CISOs) nationwide (approximately 28,000 companies) to strengthen their security readiness (May 25).As the large-scale discovery of security vulnerabilities using high-performance AI is expected to become increasingly common, security organizations are expected to face growing operational burdens. In particular, identified vulnerabilities may also be exploited for cyberattacks. Experts are raising concerns that individuals, businesses, and public institutions are all exposed to AI-related threats.Against this backdrop, MSIT has introduced emergency measures to help the private sector prepare for AI-related security threats, while also presenting a mid- and long-term direction to transform Korea’s information security framework into an AI-driven system. The key measures are as follows: Establishing a Public-Private Joint Response System for Disclosed AI VulnerabilityThe government will rapidly share and disseminate information on AI vulnerabilities, patches, and threats, under the coordination of the Cheong Wa Dae’s Office of National Security (ONS), while establishing an emergency response framework capable of joint action in the event of an actual or suspected security breach. MSIT will operate an overall situation room within the ministry, while the private sector will operate situation rooms organized by each relevant ministry. Centralizing Vulnerability and Patch Management Through a Vulnerability Management Center, and Preparing for Emergency ResponseA Vulnerability Management Center will be established within the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) to centralize the management of vulnerabilities and patches, while providing technical support to relevant ministries and companies.In particular, KISA’s Cyber Security Vulnerability Information Portal (KNVD) will serve as a central platform to broadly collect and analyze vulnerabilities and patches through public disclosures and reports from home and abroad, as well as shared information from relevant organizations. An emergency response team will then rapidly disseminate the information through security notices and recommend follow-up actions to corporate CISOs (of roughly 28,000 companies), private-sector cooperation channels (C-TAS and ISAC), ministry-specific situation rooms, and government and military organizations.In addition, MSIT plans to introduce the latest high-performance AI models secured through international cooperation on a trial basis for vulnerability and patch management and broader corporate support activities.※ (Examples of use)Open source vulnerability collection and verification → Automatic analysis and classification → Patch generation and verification(Examples of business support)Selection of software source codes that do not contain personal information (DB) → Vulnerability identification based on consent from participating companies → AI-based recommendation of actions to take and notification to companies → Company-specific implementation of measuresStrengthening Security Readiness for Major Companies and Reinforcing Cybersecurity Fundamentals for SMEsFor large companies that are highly likely to face significant impacts from AI security threats, each responsible ministry will require them to strengthen security readiness by carrying out asset management, vulnerabilities assessment, and patch management. The government will then monitor the status of implementation across each business sector.※ (Target) Approximately 1,200 companies (including duplicated ones) such as information communication infrastructure, companies subject to ISMS (information protection management system), large companies in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and energy, as well as tertiary general hospitals and major private universities.To help SMEs establish asset management systems as the starting point for cybersecurity, the government will distribute a web-based tool that enables SMEs to identify their IT assets, assess their current security levels, and receive guidance on security investments and follow-up actions. In addition, technical support will be provided for generating and analyzing Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) to help proactively identify and address open source vulnerabilities that may be exploited by AI.In addition, attack surface assessments and expert consultations will be provided to minimize the potential scope of cyberattacks. MSIT will also leverage high-performance AI models to identify vulnerabilities in software products developed by SMEs, helping foster a digital industrial environment that is resilient against AI-driven threats.Establishing a Proactive Response System for AI-driven Cyber ThreatsGlobal domains (approximately 350 million cases per day) will be monitored continuously, while AI-driven malicious activities (attack preparation) and domains will be immediately detected and addressed upon creation to rapidly respond to AI security threats. In the event of a suspected or potential cyber incident related to AI services, the “Incident Investigation Review Committee” will be convened immediately to conduct a swift investigation and prevent the spread of damage.Establishing a Global-level AI Security Ecosystem through International CooperationStarting with securing access to OpenAI’s Government Trusted Access for Cyber (GTAC), the government will continue to cooperate with global big tech companies to join AI security projects and obtain relevant information. It will also expand cooperation with cybersecurity agencies in partner countries to strengthen AI-driven threat responses and information sharing.Promoting Public Awareness and Disseminating Response GuidelinesThe government will also develop and distribute response guidelines for each stakeholder (manufacturers, businesses, public institutions, and individuals) covering the entire process from vulnerability identification to patch deployment. In addition, it will continue public awareness campaign to encourage greater investment in cybersecurity.※ To encourage greater investment in cybersecurity, the government is also considering holding a series of roundtable meetings with CEOs from major industries on the government’s response guidelines.Strengthening AI Security Capabilities to Respond to AI Security ThreatsLastly, starting in 2027, the government plans to transform Korea’s information security framework into sovereign AI-based system, in preparation for a future where high-performance AI is both widely used in cybersecurity and potentially weaponized. It also plans to develop and boldly implement a wide range of projects to establish AI security sovereignty. “AI is advancing rapidly in the cybersecurity sector, reaching capabilities comparable to those of top-tier hackers. If Korea fails to establish a security system and global cooperation suitable for the AI era, its goal of becoming one of the world’s top three AI powers could be put at risk,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae. “Through these measures, we will establish an emergency response system to respond to large-scale disclosure of AI-driven vulnerabilities and accelerate efforts to secure AI security sovereignty based on our own technologies and AI models.”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.

Vice Minister Ryu Jemyung Attends the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers

2026.06.29

- Discussion on international AI issues, including AI safety, AI adoption by SMEs, carbon neutrality, and online child protection- Follow-up discussion on AI industry cooperation through a meeting with the CEO of Mistral AI The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyunghoon) announced that Vice Minister Ryu Jemyung attended the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting held in Paris, France on May 29 (local time) as the head of the Korean delegation. Following last year, Korea was invited to the G7 meeting again this year as a major partner in the digital and AI sectors. The meeting was attended by high-level officials from G7 member states*, invited countries, and international organizations to discuss key issues and cooperation plans in the digital technology sector, including safe and responsible AI, promoting AI adoption among SMEs, digital-based carbon neutrality, and online protection for minors. * United States, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, European Union (EU) Korea, Switzerland, India, Brazil, Kenya In particular, this meeting is recognized as a significant opportunity to share Korea's policy directions and case studies amid the accelerating global discussions on balancing innovation and trust in the wake of AI proliferation, as well as achieving a safe digital transformation. During the session for invited countries, Vice Minister Ryu said, "What is required in this age of digital and AI transformation is not choosing between innovation and trust, but advancing both together," and introduced Korea's policy directions regarding the four priority agendas of the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting. First, regarding AI adoption by SMEs, he shared Korea's AI diffusion policies, including the AI One-Stop Voucher, AI transformation expert training programs, and infrastructure support centered around AI data centers. He also explained Korea’s policy directions aimed at supporting innovation and commercialization for AI startups and SMEs. He also introduced the Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Creation of a Foundation for Trust (AI Framework Act) enacted this year, the AI Safety Institute, the AI Seoul Summit, and the APEC AI Initiative, sharing Korea’s governance directions that harmonize safety and innovation. Furthermore, he presented digital technology-powered carbon neutrality policies, such as reducing data center power consumption, low-power AI networks, and eco-friendly AI data center policies. He also shared Korea's efforts to establish a safe digital environment by introducing an AI-driven preemptive response system against online child and youth sexual exploitation. He also met with delegates from major countries, including the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, to exchange views on key interests in science, technology, and digital sectors, including AI and quantum computing, and discussed specific cooperation measures. Leveraging this attendance at the G7 Ministers' Meeting, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to visit Mistral AI, a leading AI company in France, to hold a meeting with co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch. This meeting is a follow-up to the discussion with Mr. Mensch who visited Korea during the French President's state visit last April. The meeting will discuss materializing the outcomes of AI cooperation between Korea and France and cover AI industry cooperation, talent exchange, and cooperation on the developmental direction of the AI Framework Act. Vice Minister Ryu said, "AI and digital technologies create new opportunities for growth, while simultaneously raising challenges regarding trust and safety. Through our participation in this G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting, Korea will actively contribute to international AI cooperation based on a balance between innovation and trust." 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.

SNU-Stanford Joint Team Develops Next-generation Catalyst That Enhances Hydrogen Production Efficiency While Cutting Costs

2026.06.22

- A joint research team led by SNU Professor Park and Stanford Professor Jaramillo, supported by MSIT’s Top-Tier Project, has published their findings in Science, presenting a platinum cluster catalyst technology that can precisely control the number of platinum atoms.- The synthesis method enables a large-scale production at up to tens of grams at the laboratory scale, and further scale-up is not expected to face significant technical barriers, indicating strong potential for industrialization.【Relevant National Task】26. Innovating systems to leap into the top five global S&T powerhouses.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that a joint research team from Seoul National University (SNU) and Stanford University, supported by the Top-Tier Premier International Research Consortium Project (Top-Tier Project), has developed a technology capable of achieving both world-leading hydrogen production efficiency and catalyst durability (lifetime).A research team led by Prof. Park Jung-won of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at SNU collaborated with teams led by Prof. Thomas F. Jaramillo and Prof. Matteo Cargnello of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Stanford. Together, they developed a next-generation catalyst technology that dramatically reduces platinum use, a costly noble metal essential for hydrogen production, to one-tenth that of existing commercial catalysts, while achieving world-leading hydrogen production efficiency.The SNU-Stanford research team participating in the MSIT’s Top-Tier Project, is conducting joint research on carbon dioxide capture and conversion as well as hydrogen storage and utilization. With world-class capabilities in nanoscale materials design, the SNU and Stanford teams are pursuing not only outstanding research outcomes, but also exchanges of researchers and knowledge. Furthermore, they have been establishing joint research hubs to build a sustainable mid-and long-term cooperative channel.The findings, demonstrating the synergy created through collaboration between world-class research teams, were published in the internationally renowned journal Science on May 29, 2026 (May 29, 2026 GMT/UTC).※ Title: Dependence of catalytic properties of strongly supported platinum clusters with atom countsHydrogen is drawing attention as a key clean energy source that will enable a carbon-neutral society. Normally, it is compressed at high pressure or liquefied to transport it long distances at large scale, but these transportation methods have limitations in safety and cost. A promising alternative that is emerging recently is Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) technology, which allows hydrogen to be handled like a conventional liquid fuel, but it requires platinum, the pricey noble metal, to extract hydrogen back from the carrier.To address this challenge, the joint research team introduced a new catalyst synthesis strategy that removes ligands* surrounding platinum atoms and directly anchors the platinum atoms onto a support material. The team then guided the platinum atoms to move to the most stable positions on the support and, through a hydrogen treatment process, successfully formed uniform clusters of platinum atoms measuring about 1 nanometer in size (around one hundred-thousandth the thickness of a human hair). During hydrogen production, the platinum cluster catalyst improved the efficiency of platinum use while firmly anchoring the atoms to the support, delivering outstanding durability.* A chemical substance that surrounds metal atoms and helps stabilize them.In addition, using a newly developed electron microscopy analysis method, the team identified for the first time in the world that platinum atom clusters of seemingly identical size can contain anywhere from 13 to 31 atoms. Previously, catalyst particles of similar size were believed to exhibit similar performance. However, this study demonstrated that the number of atoms — not simply particle size — is a decisive factor in determining hydrogen production performance and catalyst durability.In this study, the SNU research team generated the key findings through experiments including catalyst fabrication, structural characterization, and verification of reaction performance. Meanwhile, the Stanford research team, drawing on its expertise in nanomaterials and atomic-scale phenomena, contributed by quantifying the relationship between the number of platinum atoms and hydrogen production efficiency (analyzing adsorption characteristics). By combining experimental findings with calculation-based interpretation, the two teams jointly achieved these research outcomes.When the catalyst developed using this technology was applied to a reaction that extracts hydrogen from liquid compounds, platinum use was reduced to one-tenth that of conventional commercial catalysts, while both hydrogen production performance and catalyst lifetime improved significantly. In addition, the synthesis method enables large-scale production at the level of tens of grams in a single process at the laboratory scale, demonstrating both economic viability and potential for industrialization that could help accelerate the transition to a hydrogen-based, eco-friendly society.“We have maximized hydrogen production performance not just by optimizing catalyst size, but by precisely controlling the structure down to the number of atoms,” said Professor Park, adding, “We expect this to serve as a catalyst platform that directly bridges basic research and industrial applications, positioning it as a key technology to drive the hydrogen economy forward.”“This achievement by Professor Park’s team and their Stanford collaborators is an exemplary case that demonstrates ‘the world-first, world-class’ research outcomes pursued by the Top-Tier Project,” Hwang Sung-hoon, Director General for the International Cooperation Bureau at MSIT said. “The government will continue to serve as a steadfast supporter so that researchers can further strengthen their capabilities through international collaboration and keep generating world-leading outcomes.”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.

MSIT Launches K-Moonshot Project to Shape Korea’s Future with AI

2026.06.12

- MSIT appointed 12 program directors to lead each mission of the “K-Moonshot Project”.- The “K-Moonshot Task Force” was officially launched to mobilize the nation’s science administrative capabilities.【Relevant National Task】 28. Nurturing Next-generation (NEXT) Strategic Technologies that Lead the WorldThe Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) declared the official start of the “K-Moonshot Project (K-Moonshot)” on May 27 at Hanra Hall 3 of Seoul Dragon City Hotel, joined by representatives* from relevant government ministries and the research-industry-academia communities. During the event, MSIT appointed 12 program directors (PDs) who will lead the project missions and held a launching ceremony for the “K-Moonshot Task Force”.* (Participants) (Government Ministries) The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR), the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA)(Organizations Supporting PDs) The National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), (Organizations Providing Mission-wise Support) The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KISTI), the Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE), the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)(Private Sector) New Drugs Kyungpook National University Hospital, Humanoid LG Electronics, SMR Ship Hyundai Engineering & Construction, BCI YBRAIN, GbrainK-Moonshot is a nationwide project that aims to double research productivity by 2030 by actively adopting AI in science and research, while tackling 12 national missions* required for Korea to achieve a major leap in national competitiveness by 2035. The national missions were established in connection with the “Next Projects” under the National Task 28 “Nurturing Next-generation (NEXT) Strategic Technologies that Lead the World.”*The missions include increasing the speed of developing new drugs by more than 10 times, commercializing brain implants, developing and demonstrating a homegrown small-scale nuclear fusion demonstration reactor, obtaining and demonstrating source technologies for space data centers, and internalizing general-purpose physical AI models and computing platforms.On February 25, MSIT announced the “K-Moonshot Strategy” at the plenary session of the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) and finalized the national missions through the Meeting of Ministers in Charge of Science and Technology on March 11. Since then, MSIT has conducted the PD selection process for each mission through NST and IITP, completing the process on May 21. Mission PD (Affiliation) Mission PD (Affiliation) New Drugs Nam Jin-woo (Hanyang University) Physical AI Kim Wook (IITP) BCI Cho Il-joo (Korea University) Space Lee Chun-woo (KARI) Solar Cells Shin Hyun-jung (Sungkyunkwan University) Materials Lee Sang-kwan (the Korea Institute of Materials Science, KIMS) Nuclear Fusion Yang Hyeong-ryeol (KFE) AI Scientist Lee Min-hyung (Asteromorph) SMR Ship Lee Dong-hyeong (the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, KAERI) Semiconductors Kim Ji-young (Seoul National University) Humanoid Yeo Jun-gu (Daedong Robotics) Quantum Lee Soon-chil (KAIST) The K-Moonshot Task Force, which will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae, was formed to monitor the progress of the missions led by PDs and mobilize nation’s science administrative capabilities through policy coordination* and R&D cooperation with relevant ministries, so that PDs can dedicate themselves to completing their missions. The launching ceremony was attended by representatives from ministries that expressed interest in joining early this year. As the project moves forward, additional ministries will be invited to participate as needed.* Ministries cooperating by mission:New drugs: MOTIR and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW)/BCI: MOHWHumanoid: MOTIR and MOHWPhysical AI: MOTIR SMR ship: MOFSpace: KASAAfter appointing the 12 PDs, the launching ceremony continued with presentations on the background of K-Moonshot and support measures through NAIS. Yoo Yong-kyun, Director of NAIS, said “NAIS plans to enable AI to serve as an innovative “engine for scientific discovery” for researchers,” and explained NAIS’s specific goals and roles, including integrating and consolidating scientific AI resources such as training data, computing, and AI models, and developing and disseminating a scientific AI operating system (OS) platform to enhance research productivity.Meanwhile, organizations dedicated to supporting each mission, including NRF (R&D), KIST (Humanoid), KBRI (BCI), KFE (Nuclear Fusion), KARI (Space), as well as private partners, including Kyungpook National University Hospital (New drugs), LG Electronics (Humanoid), Hyundai Engineering & Construction (SMR Ship), YBRAIN (BCI), and Gbrain (BCI), discussed the direction of K-Moonshot and pledged active participation.The launching ceremony was followed by the “K-Moonshot Workshop” where working-level representatives for each mission gathered to discuss practical matters for accelerating K-Moonshot. Oh Sang-rok, President of KIST, which has been successfully implementing mission-oriented R&D, and Choi Won-choon, former Chief PM of the Grand Challenge, passed on their know-how and hands-on experience in mission-oriented R&D for the successful implementation of K-Moonshot.“In order to stay ahead in the AI race, securing AI competitiveness matters, but what matters most is what we ultimately aim to achieve with it,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae. “Moving beyond simply integrating AI into science and technology, we will drive K-Moonshot forward with a sense of mission to resolve the pressing issues facing humanity,” he added.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.

Legislative Notice Issued on Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the AI Basic Act to Strengthen Support for the AI Industry

2026.06.12

- The draft Enforcement Decree establishes a verification system for AI products and services to promote the adoption and use of AI in the public sector.- It specifies matters related to the establishment and support of AI research institutes.- It also defines AI-vulnerable groups and the scope of eligible recipients of financial support for AI products and services.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that ahead of the amended Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Foundation for Trust (“AI Basic Act”) taking effect on July 21, 2026, it has prepared a draft amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Foundation for Trust (the Enforcement Decree), which sets out matters delegated under the amended AI Basic Act. MSIT will issue a legislative notice starting May 21, 2026.The amended AI Basic Act was finalized on January 20, 2026 after nine amendment bills proposed by lawmakers Choi Min-hee, Lee Jung-hun, Jang Chul-min, and Choi Bo-yun were passed by the National Assembly on December 30, 2025 with bipartisan support.The key amendments cover: 1) codifying the reorganization of the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS); 2) promoting the adoption and use of AI in the public sector; 3) establishing a legal basis for the establishment and operation of AI research institutes; 4) guaranteeing AI accessibility for vulnerable groups and providing a legal basis for financial support; 5) fostering creation of AI-related startups; 6) supporting AI professionals; 7) establishing a legal basis for opening up public data for training; and 8) supporting education on the use of AI technologies.Of these, provisions that were ready for immediate implementation, including the reorganization of NAIS and support for AI professionals, took effect on January 22, alongside the AI Basic Act. Provisions that require further detail through subordinate legislation, such as those aimed at promoting AI adoption and use in the public sector, are scheduled to take effect on July 21, together with the Enforcement Decree and related regulations.1) Scope of the AI-vulnerable Groups (Article 3, Clause 5 of the AI Basic Act)Article 3, Clause 5 of the AI Basic Act defines those who have difficulties in using AI products and services as “AI-vulnerable groups,” and specifies measures to protect them including guaranteeing their participation and reflecting their input in the AI policymaking process.The draft Enforcement Decree defines AI-vulnerable groups to include people with disabilities, those aged 65 or older, recipients of national basic livelihood security, and those in the second-lowest income bracket, and further includes women with career breaks, job seekers, employees of SMEs located outside the Seoul metropolitan area, and those working in agriculture and fisheries, recognizing that limited access to high-cost, high-performance AI services could widen social disparities in the AI era.2) Scope of AI Products and Services to be Given Priority in Public Procurement (Article 16, Clause 3 of the AI Basic Act)Article 16, Clause 3 of the AI Basic Act requires government agencies and public institutions to give priority consideration to AI products and services when purchasing goods and services or commissioning work necessary for the performance of their duties. Clause 4 of the same Article stipulates that if any damage arises from the purchase or use of AI products and services, the responsible official shall be exempt from liability unless the damage was caused by intentional misconduct or gross negligence.The draft Enforcement Decree specifies the scope of AI products and services subject to priority consideration under this system. According to the draft version, they are: 1) products and services confirmed by the Korea AI & Software Industry Association (KOSA, Chairman: Joh Joon-hee), a statutory body under Article 26 of the AI Basic Act, as incorporating AI technology, and 2) AI products and services designated by MSIT through official notice.KOSA plans to verify products and services that genuinely incorporate AI technology through a joint technology review with the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA, Chairman: Son Seung-hyun), which has expertise in AI technologies. The draft Enforcement Decree also allows additional AI products and services to be designated through official notice, enabling the system to be operated flexibly as new products and services enter the market with advances in AI technology.3) Scope of Eligible Recipients of Financial Support for AI Products and Services (Article 17.2 of the AI Basic Act)Article 17.2 of the AI Basic Act provides a legal basis for the central and local governments to cover all or part of the cost of AI products and services for individuals who have difficulty accessing or using such products and services due to financial constraints.The draft Enforcement Decree specifies the scope of eligible recipients for this financial support. In addition to those who fall under the AI-vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, those aged 65 or older, recipients of national basic livelihood security, women with career breaks, job seekers, and employees of SMEs outside the Seoul metropolitan area, it also includes university students and science and engineering professionals in non-metropolitan regions, so that support can be provided as widely as possible within the available budget.4) Support Procedures Using the Venture Investment Fund of Funds to Foster AI Startups (Article 18, Clause 3 of the AI Basic Act)Article 18, Clause 3 of the AI Basic Act stipulates that heads of central administrative agencies can support startups in the AI industry using the venture investment fund of funds after consultations with the Minister of SMEs and Startups.The draft Enforcement Decree includes specific support procedures. It stipulates that heads of central administrative agencies may request the Korea Venture Investment Corp. (KVIC) to establish an investment plan for the AI industry using the venture investment fund of funds, reflecting the outcomes of their consultation with the Minister of SMEs and Startups.5) Requirements for Establishing and Operating AI Research Institutes (Article 22.2 of the AI Basic Act)Article 22.2 of the AI Basic Act provides a legal basis for universities, companies, and other entities to establish and operate research institutes dedicated to the development and use of AI (“AI research institutes”) with the approval of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MSIT with the aim of securing innovative AI technology.The draft Enforcement Decree specifies matters related to the establishment, operation, and support of AI research institutes. It details the requirements for establishment to enable a wide range of entities to establish such institutes and sets out support measures so that the government can provide broad support for them.The AI Basic Act was revised on January 20 to secure innovative AI technology, promote the adoption and use of AI in the public sector, boost AI startups, and strengthen AI accessibility for AI-vulnerable groups.In line with these goals, MSIT has prepared the draft Enforcement Decree and plans to move forward with the revision process so that the amended AI Basic Act can take effect on schedule. The draft Enforcement Decree will undergo regulatory and legislative reviews, followed by vice-ministerial and cabinet meetings, before taking effect on July 21, 2026, alongside the amended AI Basic Act.“With the AI Basic Act, which serves as the institutional foundation for advancing Korea’s AI industry, having taken effect on January 22, the amended Act coming into force in July is expected to further strengthen the legal basis for expanding AI adoption and fostering industry growth,” said Kim Kyung-man, Director General of Artificial Intelligence Policy Bureau at MSIT. “We will ensure the smooth implementation of the Act and operation of related systems to actively support the growth of the AI industry by expanding the adoption of AI products and services in public procurement and promoting public-private technology investment through the establishment of AI research institutes.”The pre-announced draft Enforcement Decree is available on the MSIT website (www.msit.go.kr) under the “Legislative/Administrative Notice” board. Comments on the draft can be submitted by email or post until June 19, 2026.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.

Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyunghoon Meets with ITU Secretary-General

2026.06.29

- Exploring ways to expand Korea-ITU digital cooperation- Discussing cooperation to bridge the global digital divide and promote digital inclusion Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyunghoon met with Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), who visited Korea to attend the Global AI Hub Vision Declaration Ceremony held in Seoul on May 21, 2026. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to expand cooperation between Korea and the ITU in the era of digital transformation. The two sides shared the view that expanding universal and meaningful connectivity, bridging the digital divide, and promoting the safe and inclusive use of AI are among the most important challenges facing the international community amid the rapidly evolving digital landscape. They agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of AI and the digital sector. Deputy Prime Minister Bae explained that Korea has worked closely with the ITU since its accession in 1952 and has actively contributed in the areas of radiocommunication, telecommunication standardization, and telecommunication development as a nine-term member of the ITU Council. He also emphasized that, building on Korea’s achievements such as the world’s first commercial deployment of 5G services, participation in discussions on 6G standardization, and ICT capacity-building programs for developing countries, continued practical cooperation with the ITU could generate meaningful outcomes that promote the inclusive diffusion of AI and digital technologies. Deputy Prime Minister Bae said, “Korea will continue to work closely with the international community to ensure that the benefits of AI and digital technologies are shared broadly and equitably around the world. As a steadfast partner of the ITU, Korea will continue to contribute to building an inclusive global AI and digital ecosystem through its cooperation with the organization.” 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.

Vice Minister Koo Hyuk Chae Meets with Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs

2026.06.29

- Discussing amendment of the MoU on Digital Economy Cooperation, expanding scope across all future key technologies- Elevating bilateral cooperation to a new level by strengthening alliances in strategic technologies such as quantum and 6G Vice Minister Koo Hyuk Chae of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyunghoon) met with Sakari Puisto, the Minister of Economic Affairs of the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE), in Yeouido, Seoul, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, to discuss plans for strengthening substantive cooperation and building a strategic partnership in the science, technology, and digital sectors of both countries. This meeting took place just two months after the visit of Antti Vasara, the Special Envoy for Technology from the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in March. It was arranged to materialize the commitment to technological cooperation identified at that time and to jointly secure leadership in future industries as like-minded partners amid the global race for technological supremacy. Vice Minister Koo and Minister Puisto shared the view that future critical technologies such as AI, quantum technologies, and sixth-generation mobile communications (6G) are at the core of digital leadership. They highly valued the close alignment between Finland’s unique strengths in foundational technologies and Korea’s world-class manufacturing and process expertise, noting that together they are building a complementary technology ecosystem. In particular, they welcomed the full-scale launch of seven joint projects in strategic technology fields under Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research and innovation program, with a total research budget of EUR 118.5 million (approximately KRW 206.5 billion). They also agreed to work closely together to generate innovative outcomes. Strong demand for such cooperation is reflected in the research community's growing interest, as evidenced by an approximately 50 percent increase in proposals submitted in response to new joint calls for proposals in 6G and quantum technologies compared with previous rounds. The two sides also agreed to update the Memorandum of Understanding on Digital Economy Cooperation, signed in 2019 between Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, to better reflect the strategic priorities of both governments. They agreed to establish a more practical framework for cooperation and expand the partnership beyond simple information sharing toward supporting joint projects among major research institutions and companies, as well as facilitating exchanges of outstanding talent. Vice Minister Koo said, “The combination of Korea’s strengths in ICT manufacturing and operational capabilities and Finland’s advanced foundational technologies has the potential to create powerful synergies in future digital markets. I hope this meeting will serve as an important opportunity to broaden the horizons of science and technology cooperation between our two countries and advance our partnership into a digital economy alliance.” 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.

Korea-UAE AI Infrastructure and Semiconductor Investment Forum Held

2026.06.29

- The two countries explored strategic cooperation to strengthen bilateral AI ecosystems across infrastructure, semiconductors, models and services.- Business leaders discussed investment cooperation through business matching sessions and networking. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyunghoon), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) and the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy held the Korea-UAE AI Infrastructure and Semiconductor Investment Forum in Seoul on May 13, 2026. Following Korea’s state visit to the UAE in November 2025, the two countries formed a public-private working group and have since discussed cooperation across the AI ecosystem, including infrastructure, models and services. The forum was held to build on those discussions and translate them into practical outcomes. [ The Korea-UAE AI Infrastructure and Semiconductor Investment Forum ] • (Date/Venue) 13 May 2026 (Wed) / Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas • (Hosts/Organizers) MSIT, MOTIR and the Presidential Council on National AI Strategy / NIPA and KCCI • (Theme) Korea-UAE Strategic Alliance for AI Infrastructure & Semiconductors • (program) Opening ceremony, high-level panel discussion, presentations by Korean companies, business matching and networking A 25-member UAE delegation, led by H.E. Mohamed Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Investment, visited Korea for the forum. The delegation included senior representatives from Core42, MGX, the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). H.E. Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to Korea, also attended. At a high-level meeting, senior officials from both sides spoke highly of each other’s AI policies and implementation capabilities and agreed on the need for strategic cooperation to advance the AI ecosystem amid rapidly evolving global competition. A high-level panel discussion then covered areas where the two countries can combine their strengths, including low-power, high-efficiency AI infrastructure using AI semiconductors such as neural processing units (NPUs) as well as the development and demonstration of specialized services based on local-language AI models. In the afternoon session, Korean companies showcased their technologies and business models and investment opportunities in AI semiconductors, infrastructure and AI technologies. These were followed by business briefings, matching sessions and networking, giving companies from both countries an opportunity to discuss concrete investment cooperation. The Korean government plans to continue follow-up discussions so that the forum results in tangible cooperation rather than a one-off event, including complementary technology development and joint entry into overseas markets. Ryu Jemyung, Vice Minister of Science and ICT, said, “AI competitiveness comes from the strength of the entire ecosystem, in which AI semiconductors, data centers, models and services are closely interconnected. By combining Korea’s AI ecosystem strengths and the UAE’s investment capacity and strategic position as a gateway to global AI markets, we will work to develop practical cooperation models that lead to tangible outcomes, including demonstrations of low-power, high-efficiency AI data centers, and support greater market opportunities for companies from both countries.” Song Sang Hoon, Head of Secretariat at the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, said, “Amid growing global uncertainty, both countries have closely communicated through the task force for Korea-UAE AI cooperation. Today’s forum is particularly meaningful as the first tangible outcome of years of cooperation. The Council will provide follow-up support with relevant ministries to make sure that today’s discussions can be translated into concrete investments and projects.” H.E. Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment, said, “The UAE and the Republic of Korea share a forward-looking partnership anchored in a common ambition to lead in the industries of tomorrow. Our investment relationship has been gaining significant momentum, propelled by the UAE’s 30 billion investment commitment in the Republic of Korea announced in 2023 and underpinned by a track record of transformative collaboration in energy, AI and beyond – from Korea’s pivotal role in the delivery of the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi to its participation in the UAE’s Stargate AI data center campus. These flagship projects demonstrate that our cooperation is already delivering tangible outcomes of strategic importance to both nations, and this visit marks a decisive step forward in extending that partnership across the full AI value chain.” 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.

Korea Strengthens Legal Framework to Become a Global Quantum Leader

2026.06.12

- A Bill to Amend the Quantum Technology Industry Act was approved at the Cabinet meeting on May 12.- The Amendment Bill establishes a comprehensive legal framework spanning from R&D to industrialization, supply chain, security, industry, and defense applications.- The bill includes support measures addressing new policy demands, including the convergence of quantum and AI and its wider adoption.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that a bill to amend the Act on the Promotion of Quantum Science and Technology and Quantum Industry (the Amendment Bill) was approved at a Cabinet meeting on May 12.As global competition for supremacy in quantum technologies intensifies, cooperation and competition among nations are also accelerating to dominate areas including the convergence of quantum technologies with supercomputing and AI, their industrial applications, core materials, components, and equipment, and supply chains. In particular, quantum technologies are moving beyond the laboratory-based R&D phase, entering the demonstration and industrialization phases across various domains including computing, communications, sensing, security, and defense. As a result, there is a growing need to build a legal and institutional framework to systematically support this transition.Against this backdrop, the Amendment Bill focuses on expanding support for quantum technologies from R&D to industrialization, supply chains, security, and industrial and defense applications, while laying a comprehensive institutional framework that covers the full lifecycle of the quantum industry.The Amendment Bill was proposed by Choi Min-hee, Chairperson of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly (the Committee). After deliberation by the Committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it was passed at a plenary session of the National Assembly on April 23 and approved at the Cabinet meeting on May 12.<Key Amendments>1) Establishing a Legal Basis for Supporting the Convergence of Quantum, HPC, and AI: Advancing Leadership in the Next-AI EraTechnologies converging quantum computing, supercomputing, and AI are emerging, accelerating advances across the overall quantum technologies. The Amendment Bill establishes, for the first time, a legal basis for government support in this area.By combining the computational advantage of quantum with the high-speed processing and learning and reasoning capabilities of HPC (High-performance Computing) and AI technologies, this next-generation convergence field is expected to deliver breakthroughs in areas such as drug development, materials design, and optimization problems that have long been difficult to address using conventional technologies.The Amendment Bill enables systematic support for R&D, demonstration, and talent development related to quantum-AI technologies. It also requires the Quantum Master Plan to include measures for promoting the use of quantum-AI technologies, and ensuring safety and reliability.2) Nurturing the Quantum Industry with Phase-by-Phase Support: From Lab to MarketThe Amendment Bill covers timely policies to nurture the quantum industry given that quantum technologies are moving beyond the laboratory into the market. According to the bill, if researchers or companies face legal barriers in the course of developing and commercializing quantum technologies and products, they can request the government to improve relevant regulations, and the government is required to take appropriate actions such as refining relevant laws and regulations and granting regulatory exemptions.The Amendment Bill also lays a legal basis for supporting projects to identify and respond to vulnerabilities in the supply chain for core materials, components, and equipment; secure self-reliance and resilience of the domestic supply chain; and carry out cooperation and standardization in the international supply chain. In addition, it complements the legal grounds for designating industry-academia quantum clusters by specifying location requirements to consider when designating a quantum cluster (e.g., transportation networks, infrastructure, and connectivity).Furthermore, the Amendment Bill introduces a special exemption from liability for proactive administration, under which public officials shall be exempt from liability for minor negligence arising in the course of carrying out unprecedented administrative tasks such as promoting the commercialization of quantum technologies and improving relevant regulations. This measure is intended to provide institutional support for a more proactive and bold approach to public administration.3) Requiring the Establishment of a Quantum Security System: To Proactively Respond to Future Security ThreatsRecently, there are growing concerns over threats such as AI-driven hacking using tools such as Mythos, and, in the long-term, cryptographic systems being compromised by future quantum computers. In order to proactively respond to such threats, the Amendment Bill mandates the establishment of a quantum security system.Accordingly, central and local governments, public institutions, and other relevant organizations will be required to develop and implement plans to secure and deploy quantum security technologies including Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) * and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) **. These measures are expected to serve as a national-level defense system against quantum threats that are becoming a reality.* An encryption method based on math problems that would be difficult for quantum computers to solve.** A technology that uses the unique properties of quantum mechanics to prevent eavesdropping and hacking at the source.4) Applying Quantum Technologies to the Defense Sector: Pioneering Real-world Use CasesAs quantum technologies emerge as critical assets for national security, the Amendment Bill adds a legal basis for their application to the defense sector. In particular, it enables MSIT to work with the Ministry of National Defense and other relevant agencies to develop and demonstrate quantum technologies across military communications, cryptography, sensing, and navigation, including eavesdropping-proof military communications, stealth-detecting quantum radar, and GPS-free quantum navigation systems.5) Mandating Impact Assessments for Quantum Technology Projects: Ensuring Responsible and Safe UseWhile promoting the applications of quantum technologies in industry and national defense, the Amendment Bill also introduces regulations to proactively manage potential risks that may arise in the course of using such technologies. In particular, it requires impact assessments to be conducted before projects using quantum technologies are carried out in the areas that may have a significant impact on national security or the daily lives of citizens, including space, defense, communications, energy, finance, and transportation.This is expected to ensure the responsible and safe use of quantum technologies by proactively identifying and managing risks of security, safety, and reliability that may arise in the course of applying quantum technologies to critical national infrastructure.<Plans>Following the approval of the Amendment Bill at the Cabinet meeting, MSIT plans to establish subordinate legislation, including enforcement decrees and enforcement rules, and specify detailed operational standards for each measure. These will specifically stipulate projects subject to impact assessments and their procedures and standards, details about the establishment of a quantum security system, and requirements and procedures for designating organizations responsible for the supply chains of quantum AI and core materials, components, and equipment supply chains.In the meantime, MSIT will gather broad input from relevant ministries, industry, academia, and civil society to incorporate them into the subordinate legislation. The ministry intends to ensure everything is in place so that the law (which takes effect six month after promulgation) and the new regulations can be smoothly implemented on the ground.“Quantum is a core strategic technology that helps overcome the limitations of conventional technologies in terms of power consumption and computational performance, and has the potential to drive AI innovation to the next level,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae. “The Korean government will strengthen policy support throughout the full lifecycle of quantum spanning R&D, industrialization, security, and applications in key industries to ensure that Korea leads the Next-AI era.”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.

MSIT and Anthropic Discussed Cooperation on AI

2026.05.27

- Second Vice Minister Ryu discussed broad cooperation measures to support the growth of Korea’s AI industry.- The two sides agreed to cooperate on advancing Korea’s AI safety and trust policies including the AI Basic Act, AI legal frameworks, and AI safety evaluation.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that it held a meeting with Anthropic on May 11 to discuss cooperation in AI safety, security, and supporting the growth of Korea’s AI industry. The meeting was jointly held with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, Minister: Cho Hyun), the National Intelligence Service (NIS, Director Lee Jong-seok), the Financial Services Commission (FSC, Chairman: Lee Eog-weon), the AI Safety Institute (AISI, Director: Kim Myuhng-joo), the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA, President: Lee Sang-jung), and the Financial Security Institute (FSI, President: Park Sang-won).The meeting was held as a follow-up to discussions on AI cooperation between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MSIT Bae and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in February.Amid growing global interest in the use of high-performance AI models in cybersecurity, the meeting was arranged to explore cooperation between MSIT and Anthropic not only in AI but also in cybersecurity. During the meeting, Ryu Je-myung, Second Vice Minister of MSIT, Kim Myuhng-joo, Director of AISI, Oh Jin-young, Vice President of KISA, had in-depth discussions on various areas of cooperation with representatives of Anthropic including Michael Sellitto, Head of Global Affairs.Firstly, MSIT proposed that Anthropic work together with Korean companies and organizations regarding cybersecurity while asking the company to share information in advance so Korea can preemptively prepare for vulnerability disclosures. The two sides also agreed to continue active cooperation and working-level discussions on the use of AI models in cybersecurity.The discussions also covered how to cooperate on Korea’s AI Basic Act and other AI policies and regulatory frameworks aimed at laying the foundation for AI safety and trust. While stressing that the AI Basic Act is gaining global attention as a leading example of establishing legal grounds that support innovation in the AI industry and build public trust, MSIT asked Anthropic to share its diverse experiences as a global AI leader. In addition, the two sides discussed cooperation between AISI and Anthropic to ensure the safety of AI models. “As the performance of frontier-level AI models is rapidly increasing with their applications expanding, it is important to shape an environment where both citizens and companies can use AI safely along with advancing AI innovation,” Second Vice Minister Ryu said. “We will actively cooperate with global AI leaders to ensure the safety of AI models, enhance cybersecurity capabilities and strengthen systems for preventing and responding to AI-related risks.”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.

Vice Minister Park In-kyu of Science, Technology and Innovation Held the Final Town Hall Meeting on Major R&D Policies for 2026

2026.05.27

【Relevant National Task】 26. Innovating systems to leap into the top five global S&T powerhousesThe Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that it held a public town hall meeting on major R&D policies for 2026 at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology on May 8. This was the fourth and final event in a regional relay of town hall meetings, following earlier sessions in Chungcheong (January 16), the Seoul metropolitan area (January 28), and Yeongnam (February 6). The meeting was designed to brief researchers on the government’s direction of science and technology policies and to hear directly from the research community about proposed improvements in R&D systems in 2026.During the meeting, about 100 participants including university professors, graduate students, researchers from the government-funded research institutes, research administrators, and industrial professionals exchanged views freely in the presence of Park In-kyu, Vice Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation of MSIT.Ahead of the discussion session, MSIT introduced its key policy directions on 1) major institutional reforms to R&D policy, 2) plans to advance the system for commercializing R&D outcomes, and 3) plans for regionally led, autonomous R&D initiatives.First, MSIT plans to overhaul its R&D systems so researchers can pursue ambitious work without fear of failure. Key measures include abolishing evaluation grades to foster a culture that accepts failure and encourages risk-taking, as well as reducing administrative burdens by simplifying paperwork and giving researchers more autonomy in how they manage their research funds.MSIT will also build a cross-ministry “R&D Commercialization Highway” to ensure seamless support for turning R&D outcomes into technologies, and businesses at each stage. It will also introduce a new investment-based R&D model designed to create a virtuous cycle in which returns from R&D can be reinvested into future research.MSIT also outlined its “regionally autonomous R&D” initiative, under which local governments take the lead in designing and pursuing R&D projects tailored to their own regional strengths with the broader goal of building innovation capacity across regions.The open discussion that followed was moderated by Dr. Shim Chae-kyung, a researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) who is also known for her work as a science communicator. Participants spoke freely about institutional shortcomings they experience in the field and offered suggestions for policy improvement. The session drew particular interest in the government’s plans to reform the R&D evaluation system, cut administrative paperwork, and ensure the successful implementation of the regionally autonomous R&D initiative, prompting many questions from participants.With this Gwangju town hall meeting, MSIT wrapped up its regional relay series, which previously visited Chungcheong, the Seoul metropolitan area, and Yeongnam. The range of views gathered through these sessions will be incorporated into future efforts to reform R&D systems and shape policy as part of the ministry’s broader push for continuous R&D innovation.“As science and technology become increasingly important, the government sees this as a pivotal moment for Korea to emerge as a global S&T powerhouse and is moving pushing ahead with bold, swift reform,” Vice Minister Park said, “We will deepen our engagement with the research community, strengthen regional innovation capacity, and accelerate knowledge creation in ways that contribute to the nation’s economic growth.”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.

The 69 AI Digital Learning Centers Nationwide Will Support the AI Era for All

2026.05.18

- The number of AI Digital Learning Centers will increase from 37 to 69 locations and outreach education services will be strengthened.- The focus of education will expand from teaching how to use digital devices to helping people understand AI concepts and apply AI in practice. (AI program ratio: 10% in 2025 to up to 50% in 2026)- A total of 1,020 smart senior centers will be established and their role as welfare hubs will be reinforced.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that it will expand its network of AI Digital Learning Centers from 37 to 69 locations nationwide starting in May (32 of which are newly established), with an aim to strengthen AI and digital capabilities for digitally vulnerable groups including senior citizens.The Digital Learning Center project, launched in 2020, has contributed to narrowing the digital divide by offering practical digital skills programs, such as how to use smartphones and kiosks, for those who struggle with AI and digital technologies (reaching a cumulative total of 4.3 million people). Moving beyond basic digital literacy, the project now aims to deliver programs focusing on building AI capabilities to help people integrate AI into their everyday lives.First, MSIT plans to build a comprehensive AI education network by expanding AI Digital Learning Centers nationwide and expanding outreach education services.In addition to the existing 37 centers, MSIT has added 32 centers. By locating these new centers in public access points such as libraries, post offices, and Administrative & Welfare Centers, the ministry made it more convenient for people to access AI education programs. Furthermore, for digitally vulnerable groups who have difficulties in visiting the learning centers, outreach programs conducted at senior community centers and welfare centers will expand from 4,200 locations in 2025 to more than 6,000 locations in 2026. To ensure no vulnerable group is left behind, the outreach programs, originally organized at the city, gun, and gu level, will now cover even smaller administrative units such as eup, myeon, and dong.Second, MSIT will offer more hands-on experience with the latest AI technologies and expand customized education programs.To this end, the new AI Digital Learning Centers will be equipped with cutting-edge devices such as AI robots and AI-based creative solutions developed by leading Korean companies that have won CES innovation awards. This will enable citizens to experience the latest AI technologies in their daily lives and build greater openness and familiarity with new technologies.Education methods will also evolve. Rather than relying solely on classroom-based instruction, tutors specialized in AI and digital learning will stay at the learning centers to assess each participant’s capabilities and suggest personalized learning pathways. By tracking participants’ learning histories, the centers will support continuous learning journeys from introductory to advanced courses tailored to individual levels. All programs will cover topics ranging from foundational AI concepts and deepfake detection to AI safety and ethics, helping all citizens to develop the ability to use AI safely and responsibly. Third, MSIT will expand AI education programs and customized courses tailored to regional needs.For instance, reflecting the demographic profile of each region, urban areas will focus on practical AI application for young people and office workers, while regions with high concentrations of marginalized groups will focus on building foundational capabilities in AI and digital access.By flexibly adapting space design and AI education ratios (ranging from 10 to 50%) to the characteristics of each region, MSIT aims to provide educational content that resonates with local needs.* (Urban Areas) AI education (data analysis and work automation): 50%, Digital education: 50%(Regions with High Concentrations of the Marginalized Groups) AI education (for the foundational capabilities of AI use): 20%, Digital education: 80%MSIT plans to expand the role of “smart senior centers” into “digital welfare hubs” from this year to support the daily lives of the oldest old. The ministry aims to transform these centers from mere recreational venues into spaces that provide daily life support services. In addition to newly establishing 1,020 smart senior centers (total: 6,397 nationwide), MSIT will collaborate with local health centers to provide medical consultation and prescription services at these centers for the elderly who have mobility limitations that make hospital visits difficult.In combination with the education support through AI Digital Learning Centers, MSIT plans to mobilize its full capabilities toward achieving “digital inclusion,” where everyone can overcome everyday challenges through and benefit from AI and digital technologies.To this end, the ministry will expand the development of inclusive technologies* that enable the elderly and people with disabilities to access and use AI technologies more conveniently, while identifying inclusive AI services for vulnerable groups. In addition, it will continue to distribute ICT assistive devices tailored to different types of disabilities and strengthen support for addressing overdependence on smartphones through Korea Internet Addiction Prevention Centers. It also plans to align corporate social responsibility initiatives with government policies to drive an inclusive AI ecosystem built on public-private collaboration.* E.g., the development and demonstration of AI agents that enable the elderly who struggle to use essential apps for trains, taxis, and shopping to do so via voice commands (by 2027) and the development of a non-face-to-face communication platform that supports people with hearing impairments through real-time sign language interpretation (by 2027). “AI should not be the exclusive domain of experts but a tool that benefits everyone, including marginalized groups like the elderly, meaningfully improving the quality of their daily lives,” Lee Do-gyu, Director General of MSIT’s Office of ICT Policy stated, “While expanding and strengthening outreach education services reaching even eup, myeon, and dong, centered around the 69 AI Digital Learning Centers across the country, we will spare no effort to position Korea as a leading nation in digital inclusion by developing inclusive technologies and AI services, distributing ICT assistive devices for people with disabilities, and addressing the adverse effects of AI and digital technologies.”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.

The AIDC Special Act Passes the National Assembly Plenary Session

2026.05.18

- The Special Act includes 1) the introduction of the batch process of permits and approvals as well as a “timeout system,” 2) the exemption of power grid impact assessment in non-capital regions, and 3) the relaxation of facility installation standards.- The Special Act will take effect in February 2027 following deliberation at a Cabinet meeting.【Relevant National Task】20. Establishing an “AI Highway” to Become a Top Three Global AI Powerhouses (AI G3)The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that the Special Act on the Promotion of the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Industry (“AIDC Special Act”) was passed at the National Assembly plenary session on May 7.1. BackgroundAmid intensifying competition to win the global AI race, not only securing large volumes of GPUs but also establishing AI data centers (“AIDC”) that can accommodate them is becoming increasingly important worldwide. In South Korea, there has been a growing consensus on the need to systematically promote AIDCs through a special act to accelerate the establishment of AIDCs, attract investment, and achieve the country’s goal of becoming one of the top three global AI powerhouses.After the AIDC Special Act was first proposed in May 2025, the 22nd National Assembly then integrated six bills* following a bipartisan agreement. The bill was subsequently passed at the plenary session on May 7, 2026, following review by the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee (SIBCC) on April 14 and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (LJC) on May 6.* Democratic Party: Chung Dong-young, Han Min-soo, Hwang Jeong-ah, and Cho In-cheol; People Power Party: Kim Jang-gyeom; Rebuilding Korea Party: Lee Hae-min2. Details of the AIDC Special ActThe AIDC Special Act consists of two parts: promoting and laying the foundation forthe AIDC industry and easing regulations for the establishment of AIDCs. The details are as follows.1) Preparing Frameworks to Systematically Promote and Lay the Foundation for the AIDC IndustryThe AIDC Special Act establishes legal grounds for 1) specifying AIDC standards under a presidential decree (Article 2) and conducting surveys on the status of AIDCs (Article 7), while 2) enabling the Prime Minister and Minister of MSIT to cultivate experts (Article 14), promote global market entry (Article 15), prepare measures to foster cooperation and mutual prosperity between AIDC and local communities (Article 16), and issue guidelines related to equipment for measuring electromagnetic impact (Article 17).2) Easing Regulations for the Swift Establishment of AIDCs and Attraction of Investment2.1 Batch Process of Permits and Approvals (Article 18)The industry has raised concerns that investment in AIDCs is being delayed because permits and approvals required for AIDC construction are handled by multiple agencies and the approval process is lengthy. In response, the Special Act allows AIDC operators to initiate batch processing of various permits and approvals through a single window at MSIT, following deliberation and resolution by the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS). The Special Act also introduces a “timeout system,” under which permits and approvals are deemed granted upon the expiration of a set period. These measures are expected to streamline permit procedures and reduce processing time, ultimately accelerating investment in AIDCs.2.2 Exemption of Power Grid Impact Assessment in Non-capital Regions (Article 19)As part of efforts for a balanced national growth, the current government has been implementing a number of policies to attract AIDCs to non-capital regions. The AIDC Special Act includes a provision exempting power grid impact assessments* for the new construction or expansion of AIDCs below a certain size in non-capital regions, or the conversion of existing data centers into AIDCs. This is expected to enable the prompt supply of electricity, which is essential for AIDC, when non-capital regions are selected as AIDC sites.* According to the Special Act on Activation of Distributed Energy, the assessment is required for an operator who needs to use at least 10 MW of electricity.2.3 Relaxation of facility installation standards (Article 21) Although AIDCs are server-oriented facilities, they have been subject to the same installation standards for elevators, parking lots, and artworks that were designed for occupant-oriented buildings. The AIDC Special Act now allows these standards to be relaxed through a presidential decree, which is expected to reduce unnecessary installations in AIDCs and ease the burden on the private sector investing in AIDCs.3. PlansThe AIDC Special Act is scheduled to take effect in February 2027 following deliberation and promulgation at a Cabinet meeting and a nine-month grace period. The government plans to swiftly pursue follow-up measures such as preparing subordinate legislation to ensure the smooth implementation of the Special Act. It also plans to establish standards and procedures for regulatory relaxation related to AIDCs through sufficient consultations with relevant ministries and various stakeholders.Meanwhile, MSIT and the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment (MCEE) announced that, taking the opportunity of the establishment of the AIDC Special Act, they plan to sign an MOU to build collaborative frameworks and develop necessary measures based on the shared understanding that a stable power supply for AIDCs is the key to securing the golden window of opportunity for South Korea to become one of the top three global AI powerhouses.“The passage of the AIDC Special Act at the National Assembly is highly meaningful as it will enable Korea to accelerate the expansion of AI infrastructure. I appreciate the efforts of the SIBCC members in passing the bill. In particular, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the lawmakers who proposed the bill: Mr. Chung Dong-young, Mr. Cho In-cheol, Mr. Han Min-soo, Ms. Hwang Jeong-ah, Mr. Kim Jang-gyeom and Ms. Lee Hae-min*” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae. He also emphasized “Amid the fierce competition surrounding AI, the AIDC Special Act lays the key foundation to accelerate the building of an AI Highway by encouraging expanded AIDC investment from domestic private sector while attracting large-scale foreign investment.”* The names of the lawmakers are listed in order of the ruling party followed by opposition parties. Within each party, the names are listed in Korean alphabetical order.“Preparing subordinate legislation to ensure the successful implementation of the law is just as important as enacting the law itself,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said, “We will closely communicate with the industry and mobilize all available capabilities to develop tailored support measures needed in the field. At the same time, we will actively cooperate with MCEE to ensure a stable power supply for AIDCs.”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.

Government-Wide Collaboration and Industrial Diffusion Powered by Data and AI to Drive National AI Transformation (AX) and Accelerate Future Technology Innovation

2026.05.28

- Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon convenes the 8th Science and Technology-Related Ministers’ Meeting- Supporting Korea’s leap toward becoming one of the world’s top three AI powers through the strategic acquisition, openness and utilization of data suited to the AI era- Building a Manufacturing AX (M.AX) ecosystem by integrating masters’ tacit knowledge – the foundation of manufacturing – into AI transformation- Accelerating administrative services and transforming ways of working through the launch and wider adoption of the OnAI mobile service- Strengthening national drug response capabilities through stronger links between technology and the field, as well as R&D governance- Securing industrial leadership and taking the lead in future innovation technologies through the promotion and support of National Strategic Technologies- Enabling the early development of advanced and future materials through an AI-driven materials innovation R&D platform- Expanding Korea’s global AI footprint and supporting its leap toward becoming one of the world’s top three AI powers by establishing and operating global AI innovation hubs 【Related National Policy Tasks】 20. Building an AI Highway to Propel Korea into the World’s Top Three AI Powers 21. Making Korea the World’s Most AI-Proficient Nation 22. Securing World-leading AI Technologies and Talent 24. Realizing the World’s Best AI-Based Democratic Government 28. Fostering NEXT Strategic Technologies to Lead the Future 29. Advancing into a High-Tech Industrial Nation by Identifying and Fostering New Growth Engines 74. Establishing Law and Order and Strengthening Public Safety Capabilities Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon presided over the 8th Science and Technology-Related Ministers’ Meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on Thursday, April 30. At the meeting, ministers discussed seven agenda items, including the “Direction for Data Policy in the Era of AI Transformation,” aimed at systematically and strategically securing data at the national level – one of the key elements for Korea’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top three AI powers. [ Agenda Items for the 8th Science and Technology-Related Ministers’ Meeting ] ❶ Direction for Data Policy in the Era of AI Transformation (Draft) (Closed Session) ❸ Plan to Launch the Mobile Service of the Intelligent Work Management Platform (OnAI) and Expand Its Use Across Government Agencies (Draft) ❺ Direction for the NEXT National Strategic Technologies Project (Draft) ❼ Strategy for Establishing a Global AI Innovation Hub (Draft) ❷ Measures to Support Manufacturing AX Based on Tacit Knowledge (Draft) (Closed Session) ❹ Science and Technology Support Measures to Strengthen National Drug Response Capabilities (Draft) ❻ Strategy for Establishing an AI for Materials R&D Platform (2026-2030) (Draft) Deputy Prime Minister Bae referred to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Demis Hassabis, Co-Founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, during his recent visit to Korea marking the 10th anniversary of the AlphaGo match. He stated, “As AI helps solve scientific challenges and brings tangible changes to people’s daily lives, the government will continue to expand multifaceted global cooperation to advance AI-driven science and technology innovation, enhance the AI ecosystem, and promote the responsible use of AI.” He also said, “It is now time to show the public tangible outcomes from the government’s AI investment and support,” adding that the government would soon conduct an intensive review of each ministry’s AX progress and future plans. At the meeting, ministers discussed the “Direction for Data Policy in the Era of AI Transformation,” designed to secure high-quality data needed by the private sector and revitalize the ecosystem for data transactions, openness and utilization. They also discussed the “Measures to Support Manufacturing AX Based on Tacit Knowledge,” which aims to connect masters’ experience, intuition and judgment with AI models and to develop and deploy manufacturing AI solutions across industrial sites. In addition, ministers reviewed the “Plan to Launch the Mobile Service of the Intelligent Work Management Platform (OnAI) and Expand Its Use Across Government Agencies.” The plan seeks to improve the efficiency of government operations and transform ways of working by expanding the AI-powered work management platforms to more than 40 central government ministries and agencies. The meeting also approved the “Science and Technology Support Measures to Strengthen National Drug Response Capabilities,“ which aim to address drug-related issues in advance by using advanced science and technology to prevent illicit drug smuggling and enhance detection capabilities. Ministers further approved the ”Direction for the NEXT National Strategic Technologies Project,“ which aims to mobilize national capabilities across ministries and public-private partnerships and provide focused support for National Strategic Technologies to generate world-first and world-leading outcomes. In addition, the government finalized the “Strategy for Establishing an AI for Materials R&D Platform (2026-2030),” which includes independently developing AI models for materials and establishing autonomous experimentation centers dedicated to AI-based materials research for domestic industry, academia and research institutes. The government also finalized the “Strategy for Establishing a Global AI Innovation Hub,” which will reposition existing overseas IT support centers as full-cycle AI support hubs, known as KAIN, and operate them as strategic outposts for leading the global AI market. [Agenda Item 2] Measures to Support Manufacturing AX Based on Tacit Knowledge (Draft) As Agenda Item No. 2, the Ministers’ Meeting deliberated and approved the “Measures to Support Manufacturing AX Based on Tacit Knowledge.” This strategy was prepared to preserve manufacturing tacit knowledge that is disappearing as skilled workers retire, and to enhance manufacturing productivity by combining such knowledge with AI. [Agenda Item 3] Plan to Launch the Mobile Service of the Intelligent Work Management Platform (OnAI) and Expand Its Use Across Government Agencies (Draft) As Agenda Item No. 3, ministers discussed the “Plan to Launch the Mobile Service of the Intelligent Work Management Platform (OnAI) and Expand Its Use across Government Agencies.” The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to introduce a mobile service for OnAI, which incorporates the latest private-sector technologies, including AI, and expand its use across all central administrative agencies. [Agenda Item 4] Science and Technology Support Measures to Strengthen National Drug Response Capabilities (Draft) As Agenda Item No. 4, ministers discussed the “Science and Technology Support Measures to Strengthen National Drug Response Capabilities,” jointly prepared by relevant ministries to respond more effectively to the recent surge in drug-related crimes. [Agenda Item 5] Direction for NEXT National Strategic Technologies Project (Draft) Following the joint development of “Direction for the Advancement of the National Strategic Technology Framework” by 23 ministries, agencies, and offices (approved by the PACST Deliberative Council on April 27, 2026) to proactively respond to the competition for technological dominance and consolidate national capabilities, the government has established the “Proposed Direction for the NEXT National Strategic Technology Project.” It has selected key projects necessary for achieving national targets as “National Strategic Technology R&D Projects” and decided to provide concentrated support for them. [Agenda Item 6] Strategy for Establishing an AI for Materials R&D Platform (2026-2030) (Draft) Agenda Item No. 6, the “Strategy for Establishing an AI for Materials R&D Platform (2026-2030) (Draft)” aimed at accelerating AI-driven research and innovation (“K-Moonshot“), was reviewed and approved. This strategy was established to fully pursue a paradigm shift in materials R&D leveraging AI in response to intensifying global competition for technological dominance and growing supply chain uncertainties. With the vision of “Pioneering New Material Markets by Securing Proprietary AI Technologies for Materials,” the strategy focuses on the following four key initiatives: 1) Independent development of AI models for materials, 2) Establishment of a cloud-based autonomous experimental center dedicated to AI for materials, 3) Strengthening data infrastructure dedicated to AI for materials, 4) Cultivating interdisciplinary talent in AI materials [Agenda Item 7] Strategy for Establishing a Global AI Innovation Hub (Draft) Agenda Item No. 7, the “Strategy for Establishing a Global AI Innovation Hub (Draft),” was reviewed and approved. This strategy was developed to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korean AI companies by transforming the existing seven overseas IT support centers into the Korea AI Innovation Network (KAIN) and to support the global AI market entry and the creation of technological innovation outcomes through region-specific strategies. It is expected that the Global AI Innovation Hub will serve as an outpost that translate the innovation capabilities of Korean companies and researchers into tangible results in overseas markets, thereby strengthening Korea’s global AI competitiveness and playing a pivotal role in establishing the country as one of the world’s top three AI powers. Agenda Item No. 1, the “Direction for Data Policy in the Era of AI Transformation,” is scheduled to be finalized at a later date based on the discussions held at today’s meeting. 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.

MSIT Partners with Google DeepMind to Advance Collaboration on the K-Moonshot Project

2026.05.08

- MSIT signed an MOU with Google DeepMind to collaborate on AI-based S&T innovation, talent cultivation, and the responsible use of AI.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced a new partnership with Google DeepMind, which has world-class AI research capabilities, to establish a framework for collaboration on the K-Moonshot missions and the responsible use of AI.On April 27, MSIT signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Demis Hassabis, the co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, the same venue where the “Google DeepMind Challenge Match” between baduk world champion Lee Se-dol and AlphaGo took place in 2016. The MOU aims to foster collaboration on joint research in science and AI, AI talent cultivation, and responsible AI use.Google DeepMind is a global AI research organization that marked a turning point in the advancement of AI technology with its baduk-playing AI system AlphaGo. The company also proved the potential of AI in science and technology (S&T) with AlphaFold, a groundbreaking AI system that predicts protein structures. In particular, CEO Hassabis was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 for AlphaFold, which solved one of the long-standing challenges in the field of chemistry: predicting protein structures.The MOU was signed at a symbolic moment, marking the 10th anniversary of the AlphaGo, to turn a decade of AI progress into a new engine for S&T innovation, while expanding global collaboration to advance the AI ecosystem and promote responsible AI use.MSIT has been advancing the K-Moonshot project to improve research productivity and address national grand challenges through AI-based S&T innovation. The MOU with Google DeepMind is expected to support successful implementation of the K-Moonshot missions by seeking practical collaboration across technology, infrastructure, and researcher exchanges.The two sides plan to work together across various S&T fields such as life sciences, weather and climate, and AI scientists and pursue joint research and researcher exchange programs centered on the National Science AI Research Center, which is set to launch in May. In addition to the development and validation of AI models and tools and the use of data to accelerate scientific discoveries, they also decided to explore collaboration centered on AI Bio Innovation Hubs.Both sides will also offer internship opportunities for outstanding Korean AI talent to experience the research environment of Google DeepMind. To this end, Google will establish an AI Campus in Korea while expanding collaboration with academia, researchers, and startups. The AI Campus is expected to serve as a hub for AI-based S&T collaboration between the two sides in line with the K-Moonshot missions.They will also collaborate on AI safety and governance through joint research on safety frameworks and safeguards for AI models to support the responsible development of AI technologies. In particular, in coordination with the AI Safety Institute, which is responsible for AI safety evaluation and research to prepare for AI-related risks, they will continue discussions on safety framework development and testing methodologies. Additionally, they will continue discussions on establishing a global AI hub in Korea and on cooperation to address challenges facing humanity and achieve mutual prosperity.“While AlphaGo opened the first chapter of the AI era 10 years ago, AI is now moving to the next stage of addressing technological challenges and making a real impact on people’s lives,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae said, “The MOU we signed today will serve as a key catalyst to accelerate AI innovation in S&T centered on the K-Moonshot project, while fostering collaboration on safe and responsible AI research and the spread of best practices.”The co-founder and CEO Hassabis said, “After the historic AlphaGo match, which marked the starting point of the modern AI era, Korea has become a very special place for Google.” He added, “Building on this precious legacy, Google will embark on a new journey to advance bio innovation and expand the frontiers of weather and climate forecasting. In parallel, as a partner, we will also contribute to building safeguards to help AI develop responsibly.”Following the MOU signing ceremony, MSIT and Google DeepMind held a roundtable with experts in S&T AI and other AI fields. During the session, experts including Seok Cha-ok, Professor at Seoul National University, Kim Woo-youn, Professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Yoo Yong-kyun, Director of the National Science AI Research Center, and Park Ha-on, CTO of AIM Intelligence gathered to discuss ways to accelerate AI-based scientific discoveries and collaboration with Google DeepMind.The attendees said, “Just as AlphaFold changed the paradigm of predicting protein structures, it is time for Korea to fundamentally shift the S&T research ecosystem to an AI-based one through the systematic accumulation and integration of research data, AI models, and talent before it is too late.” They also expressed hope that combining the K-Moonshot missions and the research capabilities of Google DeepMind would yield research outcomes that contribute to humanity.MSIT and Google DeepMind will form a joint working group to implement the MOU and continue to discuss detailed collaboration agendas and action plans through quarterly virtual meetings and annual in-person meetings.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.

MSIT and Google DeepMind Kick Off “K-Moonshot” Cooperation

2026.05.28

- MSIT and Google DeepMind kick off “K-Moonshot” cooperation The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT; Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyunghoon) announced a partnership with Google DeepMind (GDM), a global leader in AI research, to establish a platform for cooperation in implementing the “K-Moonshot” project and promoting the responsible use of AI. Deputy Prime Minister Bae met with Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of GDM at 4:00 PM on Monday, April 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, the same venue where the ‘Google DeepMind Challenge Match between world Go chapion Lee Se-dol and AlphaGo took place in 2016. During the meeting, they signed an MoU to collaborate on key areas, including joint AI research, talent development, and the responsible use of AI. GDM is a leading AI research organization that has driven the AI paradigm through the AlphaGo match and proven the unlimited possibility that the AI technology possesses with AlphaFold. In particular, CEO Hassabis was a co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for solving mankind’s long-standing challenge, the prediction of protein structure. This MOU holds particular significance not only because it was signed on the 10th anniversary of the AlphaGo match, but also because it translates a decade of accumulated AI technology into a driving force for science, technology and innovation; advances the domestic AI ecosystem; and expands the scope of international cooperation for the responsible use of AI. The MSIT is promoting “K-Moonshot” project to boost research productivity through AI-driven science and technology innovation. This MoU is expected to lay a concrete foundation for the successful implementation of the K-Moonshot project in partnership with GDM, a world-class AI research organization, identifying tangible cooperation opportunities across technology, infrastructure, and researcher engagement. The MSIT and the GDM will work together in various science and technology fields, spanning life sciences, meteorology and climate, and AI for scientists. Centered on the National Science AI Research Center, scheduled to open in May 2026, they will facilitate joint research and researcher exchanges. Moreover, both sides will cooperate in developing and validating AI models and tools, as well as utilizing scientific data, to accelerate scientific discovery. They also agreed to create internship opportunities so that Korea’s top AI talent can directly experience in GDM’s research environment. In this regard, Google announced its plan to build an AI campus in Korea to expand its cooperation with Korea’s academia, researchers, and startups. In collaboration with GDM and the K-Moonshot project, the AI campus will serve as a hub for AI-driven science and technology innovation. Furthermore, both sides will cooperate in the areas of AI safety and governance. They plan to pursue joint research on AI safety frameworks and AI model safeguards to ensure responsible AI development. Particularly, in response to AI risks, they will closely engage with the Korea AI Safety Research Institute―which conducts AI safety evaluation and research―and continue discussions on establishing safety framework and testing methodologies for AI safety. In addition, they will maintain ongoing discussions on establishing a global AI hub in Korea and exploring further cooperation models to address challenges facing humanity and promote mutual prosperity. Deputy Prime Minister Bae stated, “While AlphaGo opened the gates to the AI era ten years ago, AI is now advancing to a stage where it solved long-standing scientific challenges and delivers tangible impacts on people’s daily lives.” He added, “The MoU signed today will serve as a crucial milestone for both to accelerate AI innovation in science and technology, centered on the K-Moonshot project, while simultaneously expanding safe and responsible AI research and its prime examples.” Mr. Hassabis stated, “After the historic AlphaGo match which opened the AI era, Korea became a very special place to Google.” He added, “Google will embark on a new journey to drive innovation in biotechnology and expand the horizons of weather prediction, while also playing a role as a partner in establishing safeguards to ensure that AI develops responsibly.” Meanwhile, following the MoU signing ceremony, the MSIT and GDM jointly hosted a round-table meeting with experts in S&T and AI. The meeting was attended by biotechnology and new drugs expert Prof. Seok Cha-ok of Seoul National University; Prof. Kim Woo-youn of KAIST; Director Yu Yong-gyun of the National AI Science Research Center; and CTO Park Ha-on of AIM Intelligence. Participants shared insights on accelerating AI-driven scientific discoveries and exploring further partnership opportunities with GDM. The participants noted, “Just as AlphaFold changed the paradigm of protein structure prediction, it is now time for Korea to fundamentally transform its scientific and technological research ecosystem into an AI-centric one by systemically accumulating and linking research data, AI models, and talent before it is too late.” They added, “By integrating the K-Moonshot project and GDM’s research capabilities, we look forward to generating tangible scientific and technological research outcomes that contribute to our humanity.” To ensure the practical implementation of the MoU, the MSIT and GDM will form a joint working group. They plan to hold quarterly virtual meetings and annual in-person meetings to continuously discuss detailed cooperation projects and action plans. 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.

World IT Show 2026 Achieves Largest Post-COVID-19 Results by Showcasing the Future of Physical AI

2026.05.28

- With the dawn of the era of physical AI, WIS 2026 drew approximately 68,000 visitors, an increase of about 20,000 compared to last year- First-ever full participation by all three major domestic telecom companies—460 companies from 17 countries participated- Achieved 850 export consultation deals worth $250 million—a record-breaking performance 【Related National Policy Initiatives】 21. Realizing a Nation That Uses AI the Best in the World 21-4. Fostering Innovative AI Startups The Ministry of Science and ICT (“MSIT”; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that the World IT Show (WIS) 2026, held at COEX in Seoul from April 22 to 24, 2026, concluded successfully. The event featured 460 companies from 17 countries, and the number of visitors reached 68,000—an increase of more than 20,000 compared to the previous year. With the theme “Beyond Idea, Into Action: AI moves Reality this year’s event drew significant interest from industry actors and visitors alike by showcasing the latest advancements in physical AI—which integrates AI with physical entities such as robotics and autonomous manufacturing. All three major Korean telecommunications companies—SKT, KT, and LG Uplus—participated in the exhibition for the first time. Along with major electronics firms such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, many leading domestic companies including Samsung SDS and Kakao participated, making the exhibition much more diverse compared to the previous year. In particular, the newly planned special pavilion, the “K-AI Semiconductor Ecosystem Pavilion,” and exhibits by physical AI-related companies such as Maum AI drew significant attention from visitors and the industry. Moreover, the operation of various special pavilions diversified the content of the exhibition. The AwardTech Pavilion introduced companies that won CES Innovation Awards; the Global Pavilion shared the latest ICT technology trends through the participation of overseas companies from various countries; and the EnterTech Pavilion offered visitors the opportunity to experience the convergence of K-content and cutting-edge technology. Conferences and policy discussions were also actively held. At the Global ICT Trend Insight Conference, industry experts presented the direction for AI-driven digital transformation, while at the K-Physical AI Roundtable, the government and private companies jointly discussed plans for full-stack self-reliance in physical AI. A consensus was reached that, as a manufacturing powerhouse, Korea must transform behavioral data into a resource and build an industrial ecosystem that combines proprietary AI models with hardware. At the AI/ICT Insight Forum, industry, technology, and policy experts participated to share the direction of the AI industry and technology, focusing on key issues such as humanoid robots, HBM, personal data protection, and AI semiconductors for physical AI as strategies for Korea to leap forward as one of the world’s top three AI powers, thereby further deepening the level of discussion throughout the event. Furthermore, the Invitation Event for Diplomats in Korea drew 71 diplomatic delegations from 52 countries, promoting international cooperation by showcasing Korea’s AI and ICT policies and technologies. Diplomats, including ambassadors from 26 countries such as the European Union, Canada, Switzerland, Morocco, Qatar, Thailand, Belgium, and Chile, toured the exhibition hall in person, showing deep interest in the innovative technologies showcased by major Korean corporations and startups. Various business programs aimed at supporting the overseas expansion and investment attraction of domestic ICT companies also achieved significant success. At the export consultation for global buyers, a total of 850 meetings were held between domestic ICT companies and buyers from 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, India, and the UAE. Export consultation amounts reached $250 million, marking an 8.7% increase from the previous year and setting a new record. At this year’s inaugural K-AI Champions IR Day, AI champion companies—winners of MSIT’s flagship AI and digital startup IR competition, the K-Digital Grand Championship, and the competition to discover adventurous and challenging AI startups and promote investment—explored investment opportunities with public-private fund operators. During a meeting held on the same day, participants also shared diverse opinions on government policies. Visitors were captivated by hands-on technology experiences at the ICT Tech Commercialization Festival and ITRC Human Resource Development Festival, held in Hall A on the first floor. At the ICT Tech Commercialization Festival, attendees had the opportunity to directly experience innovative technologies, including AI-powered drone operation systems, healthcare devices that measure heart rate and stress levels using only cameras, and AI-based sign language conversion technology for disaster broadcasts. The ITRC Human Resource Development Festival spotlighted innovative research achievements in AI and ICT through university ICT research center booths, showcasing demonstrations such as vertical take-off and landing aircraft equipped with AI models and AI-based integrated voice security technologies. Lee Do-gyu, Deputy Minister for ICT Policy at MSIT, commented, “This year’s World IT Show demonstrated the starting point of ‘Physical AI Transformation,’ where AI expands into real-world industrial sites. A variety of side events provided visitors and companies with the opportunity to experience and engage with technology firsthand.” He added, “Based on this year’s achievements, we will continue to develop this event as a leading driver of the national AI transformation and the global growth of full-stack AI promising companies.” 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.