Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon has committed to enhancing support for South Korea’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry to position the country as a comprehensive AI technology provider. Speaking at a recent press conference, Bae emphasized the need for South Korea to develop cutting-edge AI models to compete with global leaders like the United States and China. The government is currently in the process of selecting developers for the nation’s AI foundation models, with notable participants including LG AI Research, SK Telecom Co., Upstage, and Motif Technologies Inc.
Bae highlighted South Korea’s progress in AI capabilities, citing recognition as the third-largest AI power by Stanford University’s AI Index. However, he noted that the country’s AI-related investments, especially in infrastructure, lag behind other nations. Bae pointed out that the government’s AI budget is comparable to that of a single major U.S. tech company, indicating the need for increased investment. The ministry is actively working on expanding AI infrastructure, including the establishment of additional data centers equipped with over 260,000 GPU units obtained from NVIDIA Corp.
In response to questions regarding the redistribution of profits from the AI industry, Bae stressed the importance of ensuring fair access to AI technologies to address potential job losses and wealth concentration issues. Discussions within the government have considered utilizing tax surpluses and corporate profits from leading chipmakers to benefit the public during the AI boom. Bae proposed a system that grants every individual access to at least one AI agent, promoting economic participation and equal opportunities for all in the AI-driven economy.
