Acting president stresses goal of making S. Korea ‘top 3 AI power’

Acting President Han Duck-soo on Monday highlighted the government’s goal of making South Korea a top three nation in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Han underscored the goal during a ceremony marking Science, Information and Communication Day, describing the world as being engaged in an “infinite competition” to secure advanced science and digital technologies.

“The key is becoming to secure the three game-changer technologies of artificial intelligence, bio and quantum technology,” he said during the ceremony in southern Seoul. “Above all, becoming a top three AI power is a goal that we must achieve at all costs.”

Han said the government is working to actively invest in these sectors while establishing the legal and institutional infrastructure to support them.

In its recent extra budget proposal, the government allocated 1.8 trillion won (US$1.27 billion) for the AI sector to expand AI computing infrastructure, develop homegrown AI models and nurture AI startups through an innovation fund, the acting president noted.

“This is because AI is the key engine that will accelerate innovation across all industries and lead future growth in combination with various advanced technologies,” he said.