[Second-Half Briefing] Korea's ChatGPT 'AI for All' to Be Free Nationwide... R&D System Shifts to Challenge-Driven Model (Comprehensive)

Second Day of Departmental Work Briefings
Lee: "Opportunity to Be a Pioneer in the AI Transformation"
Strong Response to Disinformation and Manipulation in Broadcasting and Communications
All-out Government Support for Three Major Mega-Projects

The government will introduce an artificial intelligence (AI) service accessible to all citizens in the second half of this year. The “Everyone’s AI” service, a universal AI chatbot similar to ChatGPT that can be used free of charge, will be launched during the second half of the year to increase public engagement. Efforts will also be focused on developing AI data centers (AIDC), physical AI, and AI semiconductors as part of the drive behind the “three mega projects.”

The Ministry of Science and ICT reported its 2026 second half work plan to President Lee Jae-myung during a work briefing held at the State Guest House of the Blue House on the morning of the 16th. Sixteen organizations attended the briefing, including the Ministry of Science and ICT (Korea Aerospace Administration), the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee, and the Personal Information Protection Commission.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking during a briefing on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and others held at the State Guest House of the Blue House on the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

First, the government will establish an environment where all citizens can use AI without any cost or usage restrictions. “Everyone’s AI” will invite corporate participation until August 11, proceed with a beta service by the end of September, and aims to launch the service within this year.

President Lee stated, “From now on, whether in the field of production or daily life, our entire society may have to coexist with AI that rivals or even surpasses human intelligence,” and explained, “Competition among nations over who prepares first is extremely fierce.”

President Lee particularly emphasized that the AI transformation is a “crucial opportunity” to become a distinguished leader. He said, “If we leverage our strengths and overcome our weaknesses, we can be not only an excellent follower but also an outstanding first mover. The difference between being a half-step ahead or behind may seem small, but whether you are in the lead or chasing makes all the difference.” He continued, “Even a slight lead allows us to make choices and enjoy unlimited opportunities. This is the new path we must take.”

Regarding data, the key resource of the AI era, President Lee stressed the importance of balancing utility and protection. He pointed out that data is both a vital raw material for industrial development and closely tied to personal rights and property, saying, “If we focus too much on protection, data utilization becomes difficult, and if we focus too much on utilization, personal information protection may be threatened.” He added, “In the past, rather than seeking balance, there were cases where problems were ignored and neither utilization nor protection was achieved. We need to ensure both robust protection and effective use. This requires dedication, care, and skill,” he urged the Personal Information Protection Commission.

Kim Jongchul, Chairman of the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee, is reporting at the work briefing presided over by President Lee Jae-myung at the State Guest House on the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News.

President Lee instructed the Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee to respond forcefully to false and manipulated information. He said, “While promoting broadcasting and telecommunications is important, ensuring they are not misused is an even more important role.” He stressed the need to strictly regulate actions that exploit false information for private gain or political attacks and that fuel social division and conflict.

The “Everyone’s AI” service project, promoted by the government to establish an environment where citizens can use AI without cost or usage limits, requires that more than 50% of participating AI models be domestically developed. Kakao and LG Uplus have already announced official participation in the project, and other major companies, including Naver, SK Telecom, and KT, are actively considering joining.

“Everyone’s AI” will be equipped with AI services that not only help users easily find government support benefits such as youth aid and guide them to relevant information but can also apply on their behalf. Starting next year, these will be upgraded into AI agents, opening an era in which every citizen can have their “own AI agent.” A Ministry of Science and ICT official explained, “Everyone’s AI is not about developing new models from scratch but rather about utilizing and integrating existing developed services.” He added, “We have gathered feedback from businesses over 30 times, and as domestic AI model performance keeps improving, launching within the year is entirely feasible with government support.”

In addition, during the second half of this year, the government will secure an AI model with world top-10 performance. The importance of independently developed AI models has increased due to the U.S. government’s export controls on tools such as Mythos. Moving forward, Korea will focus on supporting advanced GPUs, data, and talent to secure a world-class, independently developed AI model.

The government will also strengthen AI training capabilities. In collaboration with 12 ministries, including the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, AI education will be provided to 5.14 million people within this year. Starting in the second half, four services—agricultural product price comparison, AI national tax consulting, national heritage interpretation, and crisis response for children and youth via social media—will be released. By next year, a total of 10 such services will be launched.

To counter AI-driven cyber threats, the government will begin vulnerability assessments using AI for telecommunications and platforms starting this month, and will also seek to distribute security-specialized AI models based on independently-developed AI models.

All-out Push for the Three Major Projects: Focus on AI DC and Physical AI

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, Paek Hun Bae, is responding during a ministry briefing chaired by President Jae-myung Lee at the Blue House State Guest House on the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News

The government will devote full efforts to supporting the three major projects announced last month. To this end, Korea aims to secure world-leading capabilities in AI data centers, physical AI, and K-semiconductors.

First, the government will support the operation of AI data centers funded by SK, GS, Naver, and others, with a total investment of 550 trillion won. Through a three-pronged support system—an inter-ministerial task force, a public-private alliance, and dedicated support teams—the government will swiftly provide administrative support for securing electricity, land, and necessary permits. The localization and advancement of key solutions and equipment for AI data centers—including IT, power, and cooling—will proceed. Talent development, test labs, finance, and export support will all be provided as a package to foster related industries upstream and downstream.

Physical AI aims to become the world’s number one by 2030. Korea’s advantage lies in its combination of industrial infrastructure and AI capabilities. To this end, the government will begin developing a proprietary world model capable of massive synthetic data production based on physical laws. Based on the accumulated data, Korea will build a training system for physical AI and aims to secure a world-class physical AI foundation model within three years. Based on this, a domestic physical AI full-stack will be completed and physical AI will be nurtured as an export industry.

Korea will also foster the semiconductor industry. It will build a K-AI semiconductor full-package ecosystem covering everything from domestic AI semiconductor chips to infrastructure, networks, software, and services. To secure next-generation semiconductor source technologies, Korea will finalize initial plans this year and embark on developing ultrafine (1-nanometer-class) semiconductors and next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM) semiconductors.

“K-Moonshot”: Intensive Support for Quantum and AI New Drug Development

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the ministry work report held at the Blue House State Guesthouse on the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The government will establish an R&D system that allows failed research to be attempted again. The “assetization of failure,” which provides follow-up research support for projects with excellent execution even if their initial goals were not achieved, will first be applied to programs such as K-Moonshot and other high-risk, high-reward research development initiatives. The state R&D system will be restructured around researchers, shifting from a punitive approach to failed research to one that treats failure as an asset.

This month, the government will revise the Enforcement Decree of the National Research and Development Innovation Act to institutionalize the assetization of failure, allowing for follow-up support even if research goals are not met, so long as the research process is recognized as excellent. Researchers’ administrative burdens will also be reduced: system integration between research institutions and the inter-ministerial integrated research support system (IRIS) will be expanded to eliminate repetitive information entry, and by 2028, support systems for research projects (IRIS), research funds (Ezbaro·RCMS), and research outcomes (NTIS) will be integrated in stages.

The government will also newly introduce “investment-type R&D,” where it shares risks. Unlike the current grant-based model, the government will directly invest in tech companies and, if successful, recoup funds for reinvestment into R&D. Legal grounds will be prepared this year, with pilot programs scheduled to start in 2027.

The K-Moonshot project, which combines national strategic technologies and AI, will also be accelerated. In quantum computing, Korea will secure a 50-qubit domestic quantum computer by the end of this year and develop a 100-qubit quantum computer for error correction by 2029. In the AI new drug sector, an autonomous experiment system will be established, with the development of cancer-specialized AI models to commence in 2027 and the first versions to be released in 2028.

The Korea Aerospace Administration will accelerate development of Korea’s reusable launch vehicle. The government’s plan is to establish a next-generation space transportation system that allows for more than 10 launches annually—reducing launch costs to one-tenth of the current Nuri rocket—and speed up the creation of a private-led space industry ecosystem.

Establishment of a Fund Using Fines from Personal Information Leaks

Song Kyung-hee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, is reporting on the ministry's work at the Blue House State Guesthouse on the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News

The Personal Information Protection Commission announced during the work briefing that it is pursuing a plan to set up a fund using revenues from fines imposed for personal information leak incidents as compensation for affected citizens. Reflecting the increase in large-scale information leaks, the government will also hasten accident investigations and enhance the effectiveness of penalties. A new system for the use of personal data in AI will be established. The proposal to use fines as a compensation resource was presented as a measure to enhance the protection of personal data rights.

The effectiveness of investigations and actions against leakage incidents will be improved. Major cases, such as those with over 1 million records leaked, will be intensively investigated and handled by a dedicated task force, while a fast-track process will be introduced for smaller cases. With the revised Personal Information Protection Act set to take effect in September, punitive fines of up to 10% can be imposed for serious or repeated violations.

Chairperson Song Kyung-hee emphasized, “In the second half of this year, we will strengthen systemic support to ensure that preventive investments and protective measures are implemented in the field. We will also accelerate innovations for the safe use of data so that citizens can tangibly experience change and results.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.