South Korea is accelerating its push into the artificial intelligence (AI) era, with the government unveiling a suite of major initiatives and reforms aimed at cementing the country’s place among the world’s AI powerhouses. At a press conference marking the first anniversary of the current administration, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyung-hoon laid out the government’s vision for an AI-powered future—one that seeks to empower every citizen and revitalize the nation’s science and technology ecosystem.
Chief among these efforts is the ambitious ‘Everyone’s AI Project,’ which Baek announced will be launched in full in the second half of 2026. According to Yonhap Infomax, Baek stated, “Problems such as job losses and wealth concentration due to AI are inevitable. One way to address these issues is through AI agents like 'Everyone’s AI.' It’s important to create a system where everyone can participate in economic activities through AI.” The project will provide AI agents based on Korea’s own independent AI models, completely free of charge, to the entire population.
The government envisions a future in which everyday tasks—obtaining official documents at community offices, managing banking transactions, and more—are seamlessly handled by AI. Baek explained that this service will not only make daily life more convenient but will also support economic activities such as investment. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is also planning to continue research and development (R&D) projects that contribute to economic growth. “Most of the R&D projects conducted by the ministry are carried out to contribute to Korea’s economic growth,” Baek emphasized, adding that a variety of R&D initiatives are underway to strengthen the nation’s economic resilience.
Over the past year, MSIT has been at the helm of the K-Moonshot Project, tackling twelve national missions through R&D—including semiconductors, quantum technology, new drugs, and humanoids. The ministry allocated a record 35.5 trillion KRW for R&D in 2026, a 20% increase from the previous year, and expanded scholarships for future science and technology talent. Basic research funding also saw a 17% bump, reaching 2.74 trillion KRW, and the number of new basic research projects nearly doubled from 3,772 to 7,022, according to Digital Times.
Baek believes that AI represents a major opportunity for Korea’s economic growth, noting that global tech giants such as Nvidia and Google are increasingly engaging with the Korean market. “We need to look at why companies like Nvidia and Google are knocking on Korea’s door,” Baek said, highlighting Korea’s renewed status as a key player in the AI era, reminiscent of its leadership in information and communications technology (ICT) in years past. He further stressed, “Korea can outpace other countries in industries based on AI models, particularly in areas like AI semiconductors and physical AI leveraging manufacturing data.”
One of the most significant milestones over the past year was the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. The government secured 260,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) from Nvidia, a move Baek described as transformative. “It’s no longer common to hear that research outcomes are being hindered by a lack of GPUs,” he remarked. This influx of computational power has energized research sites and paved the way for further investment. MSIT is now focusing on building AI data centers centered around GPUs and is actively promoting the adoption and expansion of domestic neural processing unit (NPU) products.
These efforts are already bearing fruit. According to Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute’s annual ‘AI Index’ report, the number of notable AI models developed in Korea jumped from one in 2024 to eight in 2025, propelling the country to third place globally. This achievement, as highlighted by Digital Times, reflects the government’s drive to become a top-three AI nation—a goal that has attracted both domestic and international investment.
Legal and regulatory reforms have also been a cornerstone of Korea’s AI strategy. In January 2026, Korea enacted the AI Basic Act—the world’s second such law—followed in May by the AI Data Center Special Act, which eases regulations to foster innovation. Baek pointed out that “establishing our own AI capabilities is extremely important,” especially for tailoring AI applications to national needs and ensuring cybersecurity. While global cooperation remains a priority, Baek stressed the necessity of building robust domestic AI competencies.
Education and talent development have not been overlooked. The number of AI Digital Learning Centers nearly doubled from 37 to 69, and the number of citizens participating in AI education programs soared from 910,000 to 1.3 million. The inaugural National AI Competition, launched in 2026, is expected to attract more than two million participants by year’s end. Scholarships for master’s students increased by 60%, from 1,000 to 1,625 recipients, and for the first time, 1,000 doctoral scholarships were introduced. MSIT also recruited over 200 top foreign talents in the first half of 2026 alone.
To further streamline research, the ministry abolished the R&D preliminary feasibility study system after 18 years, cutting project planning and budget allocation time from two years to just five months. The research project-centered system (PBS) was also eliminated, and new measures such as a 10% autonomous use of research funds, negative regulation on indirect cost rules, and the simplification of administrative forms by over 90% were put in place. These changes are designed to foster a more agile and innovative research environment.
MSIT’s efforts extend beyond AI and R&D. The ministry has expanded basic communication rights by ensuring that data safety options are available on all mobile plans, not just mid- and high-tier ones, and by providing additional voice and text services for seniors. In March 2026, Korea amended the Information and Communications Network Act to impose punitive fines of up to 3% of sales on companies with repeated security breaches, strengthening corporate accountability.
Baek also touched on the importance of inter-ministerial coordination. The Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting, established in November 2025, now serves as a control tower for managing the AI transition across government departments. Baek described MSIT as “a government R&D research institute,” emphasizing its role in generating outcomes across scientific fields and supporting other ministries. “Many ministries need MSIT and hope to cooperate,” he said, adding that the organization is expanding and reinforcing its workforce as it proves its value, task by task.
Looking ahead, Baek underscored the need for Korea to develop frontier AI models on par with those of the United States and China. “The time has come to take on the challenge of creating frontier models equal to those of the US and China,” he asserted. Efforts are underway to build consensus and secure investment for this next leap.
South Korea’s sweeping reforms and investments in AI are positioning the country as a global leader in the technology’s next chapter. With a focus on inclusion, innovation, and international competitiveness, the groundwork is being laid for a future in which AI is not just a tool for the few, but a resource for all.