South Korea will assemble an elite “national artificial intelligence team” to spearhead the development of the most advanced large language model (LLM) and invest over 1 trillion won ($700 million) to develop the core technology for general-purpose artificial intelligence (AGI).
The initiative is part of the country’s broader strategy to bolster its AI capabilities and position itself among the world’s top three AI powerhouses as global competition for AI leadership intensifies, led by the United States and China.
At the third National AI Committee meeting on Feb. 20, the government announced plans to develop advanced AI models, secure top-tier AI talent, and build a robust AI infrastructure to boost the country’s AI sector.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who chaired the meeting, stressed the importance of developing an AI model that is advanced enough to be competitive in the global market. “Under the “World’s Best LLM” project, we aim to develop our homegrown version of ChatGPT by selecting the country’s top AI teams and providing them with large-scale graphics processing unit (GPU) resources and substantial research funding,” Choi said.
The government will introduce an AI model-sharing system to facilitate innovation in both the public and private sectors, allowing AI researchers and businesses to leverage the system for various applications. Choi also announced plans for a 1 trillion won R&D initiative to advance AGI technology and establish a foundation for long-term AI leadership.
To foster and attract top AI talent, the government will host a global AI challenge for young researchers. The government will also increase support for emerging AI researchers in Korea and expand efforts to attract top-tier foreign talent.
Korea aims to enhance computing infrastructure by launching a new national AI computing center, acquiring 10,000 GPUs by the end of the year, and securing an additional 8,000 GPUs by mid-2026. The government also pledged tax incentives for AI and cloud investments to encourage private-sector investment in AI data centers.
Choi said that by 2027, the government will establish a 3 trillion won AI startup fund to foster AI startups and facilitate their partnerships with large corporations.
