I will do my best to implement President Lee Jae-myung's first pledge to realize Korea as one of the world's top three nations in artificial intelligence (AI) without any disruption and to promote real growth based on science and technology. I will work closely with experts from various fields and continuously communicate with the field, becoming a Minister who is proactive.
Bae Gyeong-hun, the head of LG AI Research Institute and the first candidate for the Ministry of Science and ICT in Lee Jae-myung's government, said this on the 24th during his first day of work at his office prepared at the Gwanghwamun Post Office in Seoul for the personnel confirmation hearing.
Bae, referred to as an 'AI expert,' met with reporters that day and noted, "I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the nation and its people" and added, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility being nominated as the new government's candidate for Minister of Science and ICT during a time of fierce global competition for technological hegemony." He continued, "As someone who has been involved in AI research and development in the industrial field, I consider it an honor to be able to utilize the know-how I have accumulated for the development of Korea."
Earlier, Bae stated at an emergency meeting organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT in February to address the 'DeepSeek shock' from China that Korea's AI technology is underestimated. On his way to work that day, he also said, "I believe Korean AI clearly has potential," and added that "if computing infrastructure and data are supplemented, we can develop world-class AI technology and create a service ecosystem." He continued, "The 'AI Index Report 2025' from Stanford University recognized a Korean model as a noteworthy global AI, and more AI models will emerge at world-class levels this year." The ExaOne 3.5, which Bae led the development of at LG AI Research Institute, was the only Korean AI model named in this year's report from Stanford University.
Bae has mainly built his career in corporations. When asked whether he could encompass all areas covered by the Ministry of Science and ICT, such as broadcasting, science, and research and development (R&D), Bae replied, "Before being an AI expert, I am also a scientist," stating that "I have achieved results in scientific fields using AI. Since I also have experience with telecommunications firms, I believe I can play a role in the ICT sector." He added, "I will play a role in connecting foundational science with the AI ecosystem to achieve results in the bio and manufacturing sectors."
Bae conducted research on AI-based unmanned autonomous robots at Samsung Thales, a joint venture between Samsung Electronics and France's Thales Group, in 2006. At the age of 31 in 2007, he was listed in the International Biographical Centre (IBC), known as the 'World's Three Major Biographical Dictionaries,' and received the International Scientist Award that year. He has worked as an AI expert at SK Telecom and LG Uplus and joined LG Group in 2016, serving as a research advisor for AI at LG Economic Research Institute, the head of the AI promotion team at LG Electronics, and eventually as the first director of the AI research institute.
When asked about the most important AI policy, Bae replied, "Now, we cannot specify any particular field; all industries and all technological fields must integrate with AI. The primary goal is to apply AI across all fields and provide an environment where all citizens can effectively utilize AI."
Regarding the scale of AI investment, Bae mentioned, "Should we create AI that can only be used in Korea, or strive for AI at a global level? I think that's where the answer lies," and added, "For Korea to become one of the world's top three AI powerhouses, more investment is needed."
If Bae, born in 1976, passes the confirmation hearing, he will be the youngest Minister of Science and ICT in history. With Bae and Ha Jeong-woo, the president's chief of future planning for AI and a former head of the Naver Cloud AI Innovation Center, who was born in 1977, leading Lee Jae-myung's government's overall 'AI enhancement' policy, there are observations that the private sector's promotion focus will become more pronounced.