Seoul: A presidential artificial intelligence (AI) strategy committee said Monday it aims to promote the establishment of large- and mid-scale AI data centers equipped with advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) and domestically produced AI semiconductors. The initiative is part of a national strategy to advance South Korea as a global physical AI leader by 2030.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the announcement was made at a press conference marking the 100th day of the launch of the Presidential Council on National AI Strategy. Lim Moon-yeong, standing vice chairman of the council, stated that the committee seeks to accelerate AI transformation in industries where South Korea has competitive strengths and expand exports across the entire AI life cycle. These efforts will cover areas from data processing and model development to deployment and management.
The council also plans to introduce a proactive and continuous security inspection system utilizing white-hat hackers. "This plan seeks to maximize the use of private-sector expertise and efficiency, including private white-hat hackers and cloud services, following the U.S. model in which private companies also participate in defense and space initiatives," Lim said.
The road map includes accelerating AI adoption in the defense sector by establishing a defense AI data center and revitalizing the AI-based Korean content creation and production ecosystem. Additionally, the government will revise relevant laws to ensure that the use of original personal data and copyrighted works necessary for AI training can take place without infringing on rights.
To nurture AI talent, overlapping initiatives across multiple ministries will be streamlined, and a continuous, mandatory AI education system will be introduced at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Lim said the council plans to draw up detailed guidelines for AI data centers, including a key principle that facilities, regardless of size, should be located in regions with sufficient power supply.
"We are reviewing regulations governing the location of data centers," Lim said during a Q and A session. "For smaller-sized data centers, we plan to ease energy-source requirements and apply regulations on a case-by-case basis." He added that the council has already secured about 40 billion won (US$27.1 million) to build a national science AI research center tasked with developing an integrated platform for AI research and scientific data. The Ministry of Science and ICT is expected to announce detailed plans in the first quarter of next year.