Han Dong-hoon, a candidate for the People Power Party's presidential primary, announced a policy pledge on the 30th to build a strong AI ecosystem through bold investments totaling 200 trillion won over the next five years.
On that day, Han proposed a roadmap to elevate South Korea to a global technology powerhouse with two engines: AI and semiconductors, stating, "I propose a roadmap that bets on the future of the Republic of Korea," including four key tasks: ▲ 140 trillion won for infrastructure development, ▲ establishing a strong control tower, ▲ a 10 trillion won plan to nurture talent in the AI and semiconductor sectors, ▲ and enhancing the AX application innovation and startup ecosystem with 50 trillion won.
He stated that he plans to invest more than 50 trillion won in the five regions of the country to establish seven data centers for learning (two) and inference (five). Han said, "I will promote the enhancement of AI computing power and the advancement of domestic NPU," along with two-track support for domestic NPU corporations and demand corporations, and he plans to actively support an open-source project for integrated optimization software for domestic NPU aimed at AI developers.
In addition, he plans to invest over 20 trillion won to build a "data highway" that fuels AI innovation. After creating industrial-specialized data hubs, he stated that he would innovate regulations to allow the private sector to freely utilize industrial and public data.
He also announced plans to promote a multicultural AI open-source project, focusing on attracting overseas investments primarily in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Han noted, "Through this, we will leap forward into becoming a top three AI powerhouse that can compete on equal footing with the United States and China."
He stated that he will also invest more than 70 trillion won to create an energy infrastructure environment that continuously operates large-scale data centers and semiconductor fabs, while establishing a stable power grid centered around nuclear power. Han said, "I will take the development of the AI Foundation Model beyond public-private collaboration and make the development of AGI the key driving force to accelerate and activate the AI industry."
He also identified the establishment of a strong control tower for securing AI sovereignty as a key initiative. Plans are in place to create a Ministry of Future Strategy to lead inter-ministerial cooperation, maximizing policy implementation efficiency, and to ensure a national Chief AI Officer role similar to that of corporate CAIOs. There is also a plan for organizational restructuring that includes the establishment of an 'AI and semiconductor industrial policy office' within the presidential office to enhance strategic response capabilities to rapidly changing global technology competition.
Additionally, he announced plans to support 200 top-tier global AI talents from home and abroad each year with generous salaries through public-private matching, expand and support degree programs for training AI semiconductor professionals, establish basic research centers for AI semiconductors, expand military service exceptions, and create a national scholarship program for pure science. It is planned to invest "10 trillion won" in these AI talent development initiatives.
He stated, "To complete 'AX innovation' that integrates AI into all industrial sectors, I will create an AI startup fund and promise a 50 trillion won investment to create an environment where AI startups with innovative ideas can thrive."
Han emphasized, "The vision for South Korea as a top three AI powerhouse is a national commitment toward the future that goes beyond mere policy planning," adding, "I will ensure that South Korea, alongside the great people of this nation, evolves into a truly global technology powerhouse that leads the full-scale AI era."
Han's camp stated that of the total 200 trillion won over five years, 100 trillion won will be secured under national leadership, while 100 trillion won will be raised through private efforts like global investments or funds.
Representative Ko Dong-jin, chair of the Future Growth Committee, noted, "100 trillion won over five years means 20 trillion won annually. The current year’s budget is 673 trillion won, which corresponds to 3%. This year, 50 trillion won has been allocated as a special fund for advanced industries, so I don't believe that 20 trillion won is an amount that burdens the national budget."
He stated that in response to concerns that Han's pledged 'three-year term' and the 'five-year plan' for AI do not align, he explained, "That's why we are forming a CAIO and the Ministry of Future Strategy within the presidential office. This important strategy should continue even if the government changes in three years, hence we set a five-year plan."