Seoul: The government has announced plans to allocate up to 2.4 trillion won (US$1.67 billion) this year to drive artificial intelligence (AI) transformation across various public sectors, including defense and agriculture.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this initiative was disclosed during a meeting of science-related ministers led by Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon. The Ministry of Science and ICT stated that the funds will be distributed among 33 government agencies. This allocation represents a fivefold increase from the previous year's budget.
The government aims to establish a cross-government AI collaboration framework. This will include providing resources such as graphics processing units (GPUs), AI models, and data, in addition to consulting programs, to enhance AI usage in the public sector. Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon noted the rapid expansion of AI beyond the digital realm into industries like robotics, manufacturing, and logistics, as observed at CES 2026.
Minister Bae emphasized the need for South Korea to implement swift measures to become one of the world's leading AI and technology powerhouses. He highlighted the importance of strengthening cross-ministry capabilities to develop mid-and-long term investment strategies and to achieve concrete outcomes from research and development initiatives.