Korea sets goal to become one of top three AI leaders

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the inauguration ceremony and first meeting of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 26th. (Office of the President)

The South Korean government has formally announced its goal of becoming one of the world‘s top three artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouses by 2027.

The government plans to expand state-level support to secure leadership in AI, which is considered a “game changer” for future industries.

“We are launching a nationwide effort to achieve a grand vision for Korea to become one of the top three global powers in AI,” said President Yoon Suk Yeol at the inauguration ceremony of the Presidential Committee on AI (PCAI) on Thursday.

“Currently, globally leading AI powerhouses, assessed by experts, are the United States, China, Singapore, France, the United Kingdom, and Korea,” Yoon said. “If we put in more effort, it is not impossible for us to break into the ranks of the top three AI powerhouses.”

The Korean government plans to invest 2 trillion won ($1.52 billion) to establish a National AI Computing Center.

The plan is to expand the current graphics processing unit (GPU) capacity to more than two exaflops, or 15 times the current size.

This is equivalent to 30,000 units of U.S. Nvidia Corp.’s high-end GPU product H100, according to the presidential office.

The government will also change its visa policies to attract foreign talent.

Justice Minister Park Sung-jae announced during a briefing at the government complex in Gwacheon on Thursday that the government will create a new visa program in the first quarter of 2025 to attract high-level talent in advanced fields such as AI and robotics.

A Top-Tier visa will be offered to individuals with a bachelor‘s degree or higher in science and engineering from top global universities, employees of universities, companies, or research institutions, and holders of world-class foundational technologies, as well as their accompanying families, to encourage settlement in Korea.

The government also plans to enact a basic AI law to develop the industry and address various side effects such as fake news.

“The Presidential Committee on AI will be the focal point of public-private cooperation that brings together the nation’s innovative capabilities,” Yoon said. “It will lead the AI transformation that determines our country’s future. “

The president will chair the committee. Yeom Jae-ho, president of Taejae University, has been appointed as the vice-chair of the committee.