Kim Yong-beom, head of the Presidential Policy Office, stated on July 21 that the role of the state in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) is not to produce or control but to organize the market.
In a post on his Facebook page titled 'In the AI Era, the State Organizes the Market,' Kim explained, 'Guaranteeing a minimum level of computing for all citizens is different from welfare that distributes cash. Computing is more about enabling everyone to hold a fishing rod rather than just giving them fish or teaching them to fish.' He emphasized that the government will establish a foundation for an 'AI basic society' where everyone can utilize AI.
While most citizens are using AI services, Kim noted that a fully-fledged market for AI applications in sectors like healthcare, education, and administration has yet to open. He attributed this not to a lack of technology but to various conditions such as regulations, data, and trust, stating, 'It is not an empty market but a locked market.'
Kim remarked, 'The key to unlocking this door quickly is a strong push from the state,' citing China as an example. However, he clarified that this approach differs from the model the government seeks to pursue.
He added, 'When the state strongly organizes the initial market and opens the door, the issues of ownership and control become apparent. This approach does not stop at opening the door but transitions into ownership and control.'
Kim emphasized, 'The state creates, uses, and owns intelligence. While possibilities open up, the society that opens those possibilities becomes closed. That is not the path we should take.'
He presented 'Everyone's AI' as a key initiative for the AI era. This project involves a domestic AI model that functions as a general-purpose chatbot similar to ChatGPT. Starting in December, this chatbot will be available without usage fees or limits. By the second half of 2027, the service will expand to a 'one agent per person' model, aimed at helping digitally vulnerable groups easily access and apply for welfare services.
Kim stated, 'The reason for establishing this is not merely a market issue but a security issue. If the country relies entirely on others for its intelligence base, it becomes vulnerable to supply disruptions, price increases, or changes in the policies of others.'
He also warned that the gap between those who can effectively use AI and those who cannot will translate into differences in income, opportunity, and ultimately growth. 'Access to AI should now be regarded as a basic right. It is the state's responsibility to ensure that no citizen is excluded from this opportunity.'
Kim pointed out that South Korea possesses world-class memory semiconductors, the capability to develop AI models, and a dense testing ground with a population of 50 million. 'The issue is not a lack of materials but that they are scattered,' he noted.
He concluded, 'Even if there are many pearls, they cannot become a necklace if they are not strung together. In the AI era, the role of the state is not to create the pearls but to string them together.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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