South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT on Thursday held the 21st Korea Internet Awards and Digital Innovation Awards ceremony at Post Tower in Seoul.

The Korea Internet Awards are a government award that selects companies and institutions that contributed to the development of the internet industry. It began in 2006 and marks its 21st edition this year. Awards are given in three categories: internet business, internet technology innovation and internet social contribution.

A total of 43 organisations applied this year. After three rounds of judging, 12 organisations were selected as winners: 1 presidential award, 2 prime minister awards, 3 science ministry awards and 4 special awards from organisers and sponsors. Merit awards were also presented to 2 individuals for their contributions to internet development.

The presidential award went to Elis Group in the internet technology innovation category. The ministry recognised Elis Group for contributing to the development of domestic AI computing technology by developing and commercialising an AI data centre, its own AI cloud and AI agent technology. The prime minister awards went to KT in internet business and the Food Safety Information Service in internet social contribution.

KT was recognised for shifting facility management from a recovery-after-the-fact approach to a prevention-focused approach based on its high-speed internet network. The Food Safety Information Service built an international standards-based food QR system to improve access to food information and contributed to narrowing the digital divide for people with disabilities, foreigners and small businesses.

The science ministry awards went to MegazoneCloud, Lloyd K and Nepla. MegazoneCloud supported companies' AI transition with technology that integrates operations of cloud infrastructure with AI and security. Lloyd K improved the efficiency of document use and decision-making at companies and public institutions with a generative AI-based data search solution. Nepla improved access to legal information by providing a real-name lawyer legal wiki and case law and statute information for free without advertising.

Individual merit awards went to Lee Won-woo (이원우), a Seoul National University professor recognised for contributing to the development of legal systems in information and communications and the internet, and Cho Kyung-sik (조경식), an adviser at Bae, Kim & Lee, for contributing to the development of ICT and AI industry policy.

At the Digital Innovation Awards ceremony held alongside it, the ministry honoured companies and individuals that contributed to national development through ICT technology development and convergence use. Ministerial commendations for ICT innovation merit were awarded to 13 outstanding companies and 13 individuals. Special commendations from the organiser were given to 7 organisations.

Representative awardees included Brils, which applied a robot modular platform and AI convergence solutions to industrial sites including manufacturing, logistics and food, and Seo Sang-hyun (서상현), a researcher at LG Management Development Institute, recognised for contributing to research on core AI technologies and development of generative AI services.

Eom Yeol (엄열), director general of the Artificial Intelligence Policy Bureau at the science ministry, said the achievements of the winners show that digital technology is contributing to making people's lives safer and more convenient. He said the government will also continue multifaceted support so that the成果 of internet development and digital innovation can spread across society as a whole.