KT Corporation has officially entered a cooperative agreement with Korea University's National Culture Research Institute to develop an AI system tailored for the Korean culture, aiming at commercial release in the first half of 2025. The announcement made on March 23, 2025, signals a strategic move to enhance the incorporation of Korean historical, philosophical, and societal contexts into artificial intelligence applications.
Through this collaboration, KT aims to utilize high-quality data from the National Culture Research Institute, which is renowned for its comprehensive neural sciences of the Korean language and cultural studies. This data will include various Korean language dictionaries, as well as encyclopedic resources centered on modern Korean literature and historical publications. These resources are expected to play a pivotal role in building an AI model that accurately reflects the Korean mindset and emotions.
Since last year, KT and the National Culture Research Institute have engaged in detailed discussions on the vision and direction needed for the development of a culturally sensitive AI. This initiative focuses on how to effectively leverage the vast datasets available from the institute to construct an AI that reflects the Korean perspective without bias towards specific emotions or historical viewpoints.
As part of their ongoing collaboration, both parties will conduct joint research aimed at improving the quality of AI data. The focus will specifically center around developing Korean values within the AI framework, ensuring that it embodies a comprehensive understanding of the Korean narrative.
Huh Eun, the director of the National Culture Research Institute, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, stating that, “In an era when AI is rapidly evolving, the humanities must indicate the direction humanity and Korean society should take and offer solutions to pressing issues through deep reflection.” He added that together with KT, the Institute would break new ground in the field of humanities in the context of the emerging era of Korean AI.
KT’s Vice President of Technology Innovation, Oh Seung-pil, noted, “We expect that the acquisition of high-quality data, rich in Korean sentiments and knowledge bases held by the National Culture Research Institute, will significantly contribute to establishing a solid foundation for Korean AI.” He also mentioned that KT plans to expand collaborations with diverse institutions within South Korea to further develop Korean AI technologies.
The National Culture Research Institute has a longstanding reputation as a premier research institution within the field of Korean studies. It has been actively involved in compiling dictionaries of the Korean language and publishing cultural and historical materials pertinent to Korea. Its commitment to advancing research in digital humanities has also positioned it as a leader in fusing humanities and information technology.
In this partnership, both KT and the National Culture Research Institute are not only focusing on the technical aspects of AI development but are also emphasizing the ethical implications of AI deployment within a Korean context. They aim to ensure that the AI developed is accurate in its representation of Korean history and values, pushing back against any potential biases that may arise during data interpretation.
This collaboration marks a critical step for Korea in harnessing artificial intelligence technologies that resonate with its cultural identity. With a target commercialization date set for the first half of 2025, the stakes are high as both institutions work to refine the technology needed to bring a new level of cultural relevance and accuracy to AI interactions.
As they proceed through the development phases, KT and the National Culture Research Institute are also setting plans to share outcomes from their research endeavors, reinforcing their commitment to transparency and ethical AI practices.
By working in tandem, KT and the National Culture Research Institute hope to pioneer a new paradigm in which AI not only serves practical functions but also enriches cultural understanding and preserves the nuances of Korean thought, emotion, and history. This proactive approach positions them at the forefront of a rapidly transforming technological landscape, ensuring that AI's evolution reflects the rich tapestry of Korean legacy and society.
