On November 16, 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Government turned the spotlight onto the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) leaders, hosting a ceremony at City Hall to celebrate the recipients of the newly established AI Seoul Tech Graduate Certificate Program. The event marked a significant milestone in Seoul’s ambitious plan to transform itself into a global AI powerhouse—one that not only nurtures homegrown talent but also seeks to stem the tide of scientific minds leaving the country for opportunities abroad.
The numbers are impressive. Across 2025, a total of 275 AI-focused graduate students have received research funding, with the city investing a staggering 20.75 billion won (about $15.5 million) into scholarships, research stipends, and living expenses. According to Yonhap News, the program awarded funding to 60 students in the first semester and expanded in the second semester to support 215 more, including 135 from Seoul Tech and 80 from other top-tier universities. Each master’s student received up to 6 million won, while doctoral candidates were awarded 10 million won per semester.
But this is just the beginning. The city’s AI Seoul Tech Graduate Certificate Program, launched in 2025 as part of the broader “AI Full-scale Era” policy, was designed with an eye on the future. As the global race for AI talent heats up, Seoul is determined not to be left behind. The program’s ultimate goal? By 2026, Seoul aims to have cultivated 20,000 AI experts—up from the current 275—with an even more generous funding structure: 20 million won for master’s students, 40 million for doctoral candidates, and a whopping 60 million for post-doctoral researchers.
“The future of Seoul—and indeed, of South Korea—rests in the hands of scientific and engineering talent like yours,” Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon told the assembled students, according to AI Times. “As the world enters an era of fierce competition for AI expertise, I hope the AI Seoul Tech Graduate Certificate Program will be a stepping stone that frees you from financial worry and allows you to focus on your research. Your ideas and actions will light the way for Seoul’s advanced industries and the future of our country.”
The city’s initiative comes at a critical juncture. According to data from the Ministry of Science and ICT, nearly 340,000 science and engineering students left South Korea for overseas opportunities between 2013 and 2022. Of these, 96,000 held master’s or doctoral degrees—a brain drain that threatens to undermine the nation’s technological ambitions. Seoul’s new program is a direct response to this challenge, aiming to make staying and innovating in Korea as attractive as heading abroad.
“We established the AI Seoul Tech Graduate Certificate Program to strengthen our technological competitiveness and secure outstanding talent,” said Nam Sung-wook, chairman of the Seoul Scholarship Foundation, during the event. “In 2026, we plan to significantly increase scholarships—20 million won for master’s, 40 million for doctoral, and 60 million for post-docs—to take the lead in nurturing excellent AI professionals.”
For the students themselves, the program represents more than just financial support. One scholarship recipient, speaking on behalf of their peers, expressed both gratitude and a sense of duty: “Thanks to this specialized scholarship in the rapidly growing field of AI, I feel a deep sense of responsibility as a future leader in industry. I am determined to contribute to the nation’s competitiveness by developing innovative AI technologies.”
The city’s commitment to AI talent development is also about building a foundation for long-term economic growth. As reported by News1, officials stressed that the program is designed not just to support individual students, but to create a pipeline of researchers who will drive Seoul’s—and South Korea’s—future competitiveness on the world stage. The city’s vision is clear: by investing in its brightest minds now, Seoul hopes to become a magnet for both domestic and international AI talent, reversing the outflow of expertise and positioning itself as a leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
It’s a vision that’s already taking shape. The AI Seoul Tech Graduate Certificate Program’s first year has seen the city rapidly expand its support, moving from master’s students in the first semester to include doctoral candidates in the second. Looking ahead, Seoul plans to extend funding to post-doctoral researchers, further broadening the scope of its investment. The city’s leadership believes that by reducing the financial burden on students, it can enable them to focus on groundbreaking research—work that could ultimately redefine Seoul’s place in the global tech ecosystem.
Of course, the road ahead won’t be without its challenges. The global competition for AI talent is fierce, with cities and nations around the world pouring resources into their own research hubs and scholarship programs. Yet Seoul’s approach—combining significant financial investment with a clear policy direction—demonstrates a level of commitment that’s hard to ignore. It’s a bet on the future, and one that city leaders are confident will pay off.
“The AI Seoul Tech Graduate Certificate Program will provide a foundation to nurture AI experts who will lead Seoul’s future industry and national competitiveness,” said a city spokesperson, as reported by Yonhap News. The message is unmistakable: Seoul is not only keeping pace with global trends but is determined to set them, building a talent pipeline that could shape the next era of technological innovation in Asia and beyond.
As the ceremony drew to a close, the sense of optimism in the room was palpable. For the 275 students supported this year—and the thousands more who may follow in their footsteps—the city’s investment signals a new chapter in South Korea’s AI journey. With expanded scholarships on the horizon and a clear mandate to lead, Seoul is staking its claim as a city where the brightest minds can thrive, innovate, and, perhaps most importantly, stay.
