Korean big tech firms join Korea’s AI strategy council

The South Korean government has launched an artificial intelligence strategy council, jointly with domestic big tech firms such as Naver Corp. and Kakao Corp., to develop AI policies and guidelines in collaboration with the private sector.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Science and ICT held a launch ceremony for the country’s highest-level AI consultation group, composed of 32 IT and digital experts and policymakers.

Science minister Lee Jong-ho co-chairs the council, jointly with Yeom Jaeho, president of Taejae University, a private academy in Seoul.

Its founding members include Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon; Kakao CEO Chung Shina; SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang; KT CEO Kim Young-shub; and Samsung Electronics's semiconductor head Kyung Kye-hyun.

Leaders from traditional industries also joined the government-led council, including Kim Seung-hwan, CEO of AmorePacific Corp., South Korea’s largest beauty and cosmetics product maker.

At the national body, they will discuss AI-related issues and propose new policies, which the relevant government ministries will review, and when approved they will draw up their implementation plans.

The council launch comes as South Korea is injecting a total of 710.2 billion won ($525 million) into 69 domestic AI projects in 2024 to harness AI technology in various industries and social services, especially for healthcare and nursing services for the senior and disabled.

This year, the government aims to increase its nationals’ AI service experience rate from 51% in 2023 to 60%, while lifting the AI ​​adoption rate of domestic companies from 28% to 40%.

In line with the goals, the government expects the public sector’s AI adoption rate to rise from 55% to 80%.

According to a study by the Ministry of Science and ICT and consulting firm Bain & Company, if Korea successfully introduces AI technology throughout the economy, its gross domestic product is projected to advance by 1.8 percentage points annually.

Write to Seung-woo Lee at leeswoo@Hankyung.com

Yeonhee Kim edited this article.