The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the regulations concerning the establishment and operation of the 'National AI Strategy Committee,' which will oversee artificial intelligence policies, were approved in a Cabinet meeting on the 2nd, and that it will begin the process of forming the committee.
President Lee Jae-myung promised during the presidential election to strengthen the role of the previous government's Presidential Committee on AI, stating that he would directly take charge and lead the country's AI governance. The change in the committee's name and the establishment of the presidential decree were made as follow-up measures.
The Ministry of Science and ICT stated that the presidential decree includes measures to enhance the capabilities of the National AI Strategy Committee, ensuring it goes beyond being a mere advisory body to become a substantive AI strategic organization.
The presidential decree mandated that the committee supervise and coordinate AI strategies, policies, and projects, strongly promoting the leap to become one of the top three countries in artificial intelligence.
The scope of the committee's review and decision-making includes ▲ establishing the national vision and medium- to long-term strategies related to AI ▲ coordinating inter-ministerial policies and projects related to AI ▲ overseeing implementation checks and performance management of policies and projects related to AI, among others. The number of commissioners was expanded from 45 to 50, and the number of vice chairs from 1 to 3.
Among these, one of the private vice chairs will be converted to a full-time position to ensure the committee operates effectively.
The secretary of the committee will be the Chief Secretary to the President for AI Future Planning. The government members will consist of 13 ministers from various departments closely related to the policy tasks for realizing 'the leap to become one of the top three countries in AI,' including the Minister of Economy and Finance, Minister of Education, Minister of Science and ICT, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Defense, Minister of the Interior and Safety, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Minister of Health and Welfare, Minister of Environment, Minister of Employment and Labor, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, and the Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission.
Additionally, the committee will be allowed to operate a Council of Chief AI Officers, which will consist of Chief AI Officers. The chairperson of the council will be appointed by the president from among the committee's commissioners.
The Chief AI Officers will be composed of deputy ministers (or equivalent public officials) appointed by heads of central administrative agencies at the request of the committee, and deputy mayors (or deputy governors) appointed by the heads of regional governments.
Bae Kyung-hun, Minister of Science and ICT, said, "Through the establishment of this presidential decree, a systematic foundation has been prepared to build the national AI command center, marking the first step in challenging the bold vision of the Lee Jae-myung administration to leap to become one of the top three countries in AI."