"We will create a cooperative framework with countries around the world centered on South Korea's artificial intelligence (K-AI). We are considering becoming a nation that can provide a full AI stack, including models, services, graphics processing units (GPUs), and entire platforms, by forming an AI alliance with partner countries."
Baek Kyung-hun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, unveiled a global AI initiative centered on K-AI during a press conference marking his first anniversary in office at the Government Sejong Center on July 20. This strategy aims to export South Korea's AI full stack to countries in the European Union, the Middle East, and ASEAN, seeking to move away from the AI ecosystems dominated by the United States and China.
Currently, efforts are underway to secure data from target countries. Baek stated, "Local data is necessary for services to be implemented in those countries," adding that he is contemplating plans to create an AI alliance by further training AI with data from partner nations.
Second Vice Minister Ryu Je-myung also noted, "We plan to support a K-AI package business strategy that combines AI solutions, data centers, and power facilities for developing countries in a bundled format," but clarified that they are not yet at the stage of proposing specific selection criteria for companies or business limitations.
Baek emphasized the need for South Korea to achieve good results in the process of preparing for a major transformation in the AI era and building a science and technology-based society. He added, "If we prepare well, I believe good opportunities will continue to be presented to me."
In his second year in office, Baek plans to focus on enhancing the competitiveness of AI services rather than just developing AI models. He assessed, "It is time to prepare for the agent AI era by ensuring actual service competitiveness rather than just creating foundation models."
To this end, he plans to launch 'Everyone's AI' within the year and prioritize the application of public AI agent services. Acknowledging the challenges of surpassing ChatGPT in a short time, he aims to differentiate by applying it first to public services. Baek stated, "We will gradually start services this year and aim to provide full-fledged agent AI services in the second half of next year to make a significant impact."
Development of frontier models is also being pursued. Baek noted, "It is difficult to create frontier models with the current level of support for independent AI foundation model projects," explaining that approximately 10,000 GPUs based on the Vera Rubin standard are needed, with the simple purchase cost reaching about 3.5 trillion won. He added that he is in the process of persuading and informing relevant ministries and financial authorities.
Regarding the possibility of forming an AI alliance with China, he took a cautious stance. He remarked, "It is enviable that Chinese AI startups are achieving good results," but also predicted that China's open-weight models could switch to closed systems once certain objectives are met. He emphasized that South Korea's position must be discussed policy-wise, considering relations with both countries.
In the field of science and technology, Baek pledged to accelerate efforts to enhance the tangible impact of policies in research settings. He stated, "Even when policies are announced, there is often a gap where the government believes changes have been made, but the field does not feel it. We will implement policies that can be executed quickly."
First Vice Minister Koo Hyuk-chae added, "Research projects typically last from three to five years, which seems to take time in restoring the R&D ecosystem in research settings. We are taking a careful approach to ensure that we enhance the tangible impact in the field, even if it is slow."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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