The government will allocate an additional budget of 179.3 billion won to leap forward as one of the top three countries in artificial intelligence (AI).
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the National Assembly approved the supplementary budget bill for the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, amounting to a total of 179.3 billion won, during a plenary session on the 4th.
An additional 65.6 billion won will be invested in the "AI transformation" integrating AI into the public, medical, and manufacturing sectors. A total budget of 77.9 billion won will be spent on the "Public AX Project" (15 billion won), developing AI-based medical prognostic management services (4 billion won), establishing an AX proof-of-concept platform for technology advancement in the manufacturing sector (4 billion won), and essential technology POC for physical AI (426 billion won). The Public AX Project develops and proves AI solutions based on departmental needs and data.
In the increasingly competitive field of physical AI, support will be provided for the establishment of real data collection systems for securing fundamental technologies and AI model design.
Investment to expand the industrialization and commercialization of AI will also be strengthened. An additional 50 billion won will be raised for the AI Innovation Fund, alongside the existing fund of 100 billion won secured through the 2025 main budget and the previous first supplementary budget.
An additional 30 billion won will be injected into the domestic AI semiconductor field, such as neural processing units (NPU), to assist in product advancement by widening compatibility with the latest AI models and utilizing high-cost design intellectual property (IP) that is essential for design.
An additional 33.7 billion won will also support strengthening information protection and enhancing AI capabilities for youth and vulnerable populations. This includes developing a high-risk vulnerability management system for major information and communication infrastructure with 6.74 billion won allocated, and 3 billion won for establishing an internet routing security system (RPKI - Resource Public Key Infrastructure) to prevent large-scale internet outages.
A nationwide "AI digital learning center" will be established, and customized AI and software education for youth will also be expanded.
Minister Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT noted, "This second supplementary budget is designed to ensure that AI leads substantial innovation in the public, industrial, and livelihood sectors, and has been structured around projects that need to be expedited most urgently for execution within this year."