Han Duck-soo, the independent candidate for the 21st presidential election, stated that he would establish a vice-minister-level AI Innovation Strategy Department as his first pledge.
The goal is to gather the scattered functions of AI innovation, science and technology, and industrial promotion across various ministries, such as the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and strategically respond to innovation policies from an integrated perspective.
Unlike other presidential candidates who revealed investment scales of around 100 trillion won for talent development and technology development, no specific figures were disclosed.
In response, a member of Han's camp noted, "The annual budget is 600 trillion won, and 100 trillion won is too large," adding that the intention is to suggest direction calmly through ministries rather than engaging in a reckless investment competition and to allow for autonomous action.
Han also expressed his position that a significant degree of discretion would be given in budget formulation for the AI Innovation Strategy Department.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance will establish spending limits and budget plans for research and development, allowing the AI Innovation Strategy Department to plan and implement detailed budget projects within those limits.
Additionally, the National Science and Technology Council will be expanded and reorganized into the "National Science and Technology Data Commission" to oversee everything from the utilization to the protection of data necessary for AI innovation.
The AI Innovation Strategy Department, once established, will work on securing 500,000 advanced AI semiconductors such as graphic chips (GPUs) by 2030.
Furthermore, regulatory reforms and system improvements will be pursued, including the introduction of a 'planned regulatory sandbox' for core technologies. It was also mentioned that radical administrative system reforms such as AI administrative agents will be seriously considered.
Policy spokesperson Yoon Ki-chan noted that the establishment of the AI Innovation Strategy Department as the first pledge was made because "it seems that all parties and presidential candidates agree that AI-related development projects should be growth engines" and that "to build an efficient and long-term system, rationalizing the platform is the role of the next president."
He further stated, "The candidate recognizes the importance of proactively creating an administrative system," adding that "the candidate believes this is fundamentally necessary and is the most essential pledge."