North Chungcheong Province will carry out a restructuring aimed at broadly introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into the region's industry and administrative sectors. It will rename the Science Talent Bureau and the Science and Technology Policy Division as the "AI Science Talent Bureau" and the "AI Strategy Division," respectively, and establish an AI Policy Team within the AI Strategy Division.
North Chungcheong Province said on the 18th that it has prepared a restructuring plan with these details and submitted it to the provincial council's regular session. The restructuring plan is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
The restructuring plan focuses on establishing AI policy and strengthening disaster response.
A provincial official said, "North Chungcheong has grown with advanced manufacturing centered on materials, parts, and equipment such as semiconductors and secondary batteries as its core industries," adding, "In line with the demands of the times, it is necessary to build an AI-based ecosystem across a broad range of fields, including industry and administration."
The official added, "The newly launched 'AI Strategy Division' will serve as the control tower for North Chungcheong's AI policy," and said, "We plan to establish North Chungcheong as a region centered on AX for materials, parts, and equipment in advanced industries and lead an administrative innovation model by integrating and spreading AI throughout provincial governance."
Governor Kim Young-hwan of North Chungcheong has directed active use of AI in a wide range of areas, including industry, administration, and culture, while steering the eighth popularly elected provincial administration. Accordingly, North Chungcheong Province is supporting a budget of about 250 billion won for 32 projects, including building AI infrastructure, nurturing talent, and supporting corporations.
In addition, to strengthen disaster response capabilities, North Chungcheong Province created a Natural Disaster Division and a Natural Disaster Policy Team and increased staffing at the disaster situation room. It also established a Firefighting Audit Officer to strengthen auditing and inspection functions in the firefighting sector.
Choi Byung-hee, head of administration for North Chungcheong Province, said, "We will actively respond to the new government's AI policy direction and strengthen the disaster sector to protect the lives and safety of residents," adding, "We will streamline the organization to successfully wrap up the eighth popularly elected administration."