LG AI Research said on Thursday that its K-EXAONE advanced to the second stage with the best results in the first-stage evaluation of the Ministry of Science and ICT-led “independent AI foundation model project.” It said K-EXAONE proved its AI capabilities by scoring highest in benchmark, expert and user assessments.

Lim Woo-hyung, co-head of research at LG AI Research, said, “Innovation that began with EXAONE will now go beyond the achievements of individual companies and become a core engine leading the AI ecosystem across South Korea’s industries.” He added, “Based on K-EXAONE’s technological capabilities, we will do our best to secure technological leadership in the global market and help South Korea leap into an AI powerhouse.”

He also stressed, “This result is a decisive indicator that K-EXAONE is standing shoulder to shoulder with global leading countries and shows South Korea’s leap to become one of the ‘top 3 AI powers’.” He added, “LG AI Research will not stop at securing a global-level model. It will lead efforts to build a comprehensive AI ecosystem, including expanding application in industrial fields and fostering key talent.”

He said, “This first-stage model is a starting point for laying a solid foundation to leap to frontier-level AI, and we will now implement a complete K-EXAONE with global competitiveness through a full-scale performance-advancement phase.”

LG AI Research, established in 2020 through the foresight of Koo Kwang-mo, chief executive of LG Corp, recognised the importance of an independent AI foundation model and has focused on research into advanced AI technologies. Behind the achievement completed by the LG consortium in just 5 months was the AI foundation model development capability accumulated by LG AI Research over 5 years.

Separately, Koo recently said in a New Year message for 2026, “At an inflection point where a new future opens, we must leap forward with new innovation beyond the ways of success so far.” He added, “For innovation, thoughts and actions must change, and ‘choice and focus’ is the start.”