To secure an independent, top-tier artificial intelligence (AI) model, we will provide full support for key resources such as large-scale graphics processing units (GPUs) and data. We will make it easy and affordable for all citizens to use AI chatbots and AI agents developed with our AI model.
Vice Minister Gu Hyuk-chae of the Ministry of Science and ICT said so at a briefing on the "2027 Ministry of Science and ICT budget proposal" held at the Seoul Government Complex on the 31st. The plan is not only to support AI infrastructure and model development, but also to apply domestic AI to industrial and public services to create an early market.
Vice Minister Gu said, To accelerate Korea's great AI transition, we will invest 9.4211 trillion won in AI next year, and We will comprehensively support technology development and validation, as well as the nurturing of corporations, for the localization, export, and industrialization of core solutions for AI data centers. The amount is up 84.3% from this year's budget (5.0938 trillion won) and accounts for 57% of the government's overall AI budget. Next year's Ministry of Science and ICT budget proposal is set at 29.6476 trillion won, up 24.5% from this year's supplementary budget.
◇ Secure 10,000 Vera Rubin GPUs and 1 trillion tokens of training data
Of the AI budget, 5.5937 trillion won will be invested to secure a top-tier independent AI model and next-generation technologies. The budget for the "AI computing resource utilization foundation enhancement" project will increase from 2.0841 trillion won this year to 3.85 trillion won next year. Through this, the government plans to secure about 10,000 units of Nvidia's next-generation GPU, the Vera Rubin class.
The budget for building high-quality data needed for AI training will also be expanded more than 26-fold, from 30 billion won this year to 800 billion won next year. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to build more than 1 trillion tokens of data to train top-tier AI models. It will also newly invest 25 billion won to nurture core Generative AI talent.
Vice Minister Gu said, We will provide full support for key resources such as large-scale GPUs and data so as not to fall behind in the global hegemony race, and We will also expand investment in next-generation AI technologies that transcend existing limits, such as ultra-efficient, lightweight AI and on-device technology.
◇ Provide an early market for domestic AI… launch "Everyone's AI"
The government will also launch the "Everyone's AI" project to create early demand for domestic AI models. The related budget is 250 billion won. It will provide a general-purpose chatbot and public AI agents based on domestic AI models, and support users in creating and using the agents they need.
The project budget includes the expense to lease about 2,000 Nvidia B200-class GPUs. The Ministry of Science and ICT estimated the scale to accommodate about 10 million users per year.
Vice Minister Gu said, Based on the AI infrastructure built by the government, we will support all citizens so they can easily and affordably use AI chatbots and AI agents developed with our AI model, and We will promote AI transformation (AX) in regions and industries and internalize AI development capabilities within the government.
◇ Invest 795.6 billion won in AIDC, physical AI, and semiconductor localization
A total of 795.6 billion won will be invested in the three mega projects of AI data centers (AIDC), physical AI, and next-generation semiconductors. This is about 2.7 times larger than this year's 298.1 billion won.
In physical AI, the government will secure real and synthetic data to develop a general-purpose foundation model that can be used across various industries. It newly allocated 40 billion won to build a physical AI training center and 55 billion won for core technology development. In the logistics field of Korea Post, it will validate domestic physical AI technologies such as humanoids with an investment of 26 billion won.
Vice Minister Gu said, Based on a system for securing high-quality data, we will develop and disseminate a world-class physical AI foundation model.
In the AI data center field, the government will build a 10-megawatt (MW) demonstration test bed. It will newly invest 87.8 billion won in building AIDC clusters and fostering the industry, and 115.5 billion won in developing materials, components, equipment, and cloud technologies.
For verifying the business viability of domestic AI semiconductors, the government allocated 135 billion won. It will invest 90 billion won to secure a K-AI semiconductor full-stack reference, 25 billion won to develop ultra-fine and stacked semiconductor technologies, and 20 billion won to develop next-generation core source technologies.
AI security investment will also be expanded. The government will invest 55 billion won in developing "AI Cyber Shield Dome" technologies, 70 billion won in distributing AI threat response services for small and mid-size businesses, and 50 billion won in building AI training foundations for cybersecurity.
Vice Minister Gu said, Next year's budget proposal is not a simple expenditure plan but a strategic investment plan to create new growth opportunities and lead a leap forward to an irreplaceable Korea, and We will push policies with speed and a strong sense of responsibility so that the public can feel the change.