"This draft AI action plan devotes a considerable portion to laying the groundwork for Korea's artificial intelligence (AI), including securing infrastructure and talent, regulatory innovation, and industry support. Because speed is life, we set deadlines for each task and included a 'funnel strategy' that forces inter-ministerial consultations."
Vice Chair Im Mun-yeong of the Presidential Committee on AI said this at a press briefing marking the "100th day since the committee's launch," held at Seoul Square in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 15th. The committee unveiled the "Republic of Korea AI action plan (draft)" that day and plans to collect opinions from all sectors from Dec. 16 to Jan. 4.
Im said, "We included many 'funnel strategy–type' tasks that require each ministry to engage in consultation and coordination on specific issues within a set deadline," adding, "We focused on enabling the private and public sectors to move quickly together, and included tasks that make full use of private-sector expertise and efficiency, such as private white-hat hackers and private clouds." Im added, "Because speed is life, we specified implementation deadlines for each action plan."
The Presidential Committee on AI is the top presidential body for AI strategy, launched in September. The committee prepared a draft action plan encompassing 98 tasks across three main policy pillars—building an AI innovation ecosystem; a nationwide AI-based grand transformation; and contributing to a global AI basic society—and 12 strategic areas. Im explained, "Unlike previous declarative national strategies, this is an 'execution plan' that specifies what each ministry must do and by when."
Regarding the AI innovation ecosystem, Im said first, "We will expand large-scale and small-but-strong data centers in a balanced way based on cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPUs) and domestic AI Semiconductor chips, and build an AI expressway with computing, data, and security fully in place by introducing a standing security inspection system using private white-hat hackers."
The draft AI action plan also includes building a seamless AI mandatory education system for elementary, middle, and high schools; linking AI talent development projects by ministry; and overhauling laws to support the use of personal information and copyrighted works needed for AI training. To drive a nationwide AI-based grand transformation, the Presidential Committee on AI plans to accelerate AX (AI transformation) in strong sectors such as manufacturing, content, defense, and administration, and to introduce an AI-native government work management platform to reduce siloed administration. It will also promote opening public data such as court rulings, building an AI-based integrated civil service platform linked with private platforms, and creating K-AI specialized pilot cities. The plan also includes preparing an "AI basic society promotion plan" covering labor, welfare, education, and basic healthcare, linked with initiatives such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) AI initiative.
Im said, "As technology, industry, and the economic environment change rapidly, multiple follow-up plans are inevitable," adding, "We will closely inspect and coordinate each ministry's implementation so that tangible results are achieved. Of next year's AI project budget of 9.9 trillion won, we will pay particular attention to new projects (47.7%)."
The Presidential Committee on AI will post the draft AI action plan on its website, gather opinions from industry, academia, research, civil society, and major institutions and organizations, and finalize the plan at the second plenary session.