South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT will again this year focus on pushing policies aimed at advancing into the top three in artificial intelligence. It will pursue policies centered on tangible public outcomes, science-and-technology-based innovative growth, innovation in the government research and development (R&D) system, and strengthening digital safety and basic telecommunications rights.

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈) said this at a work report hosted by the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee on Feb. 11.

Bae said, "We will fully activate policies for advancing into the top three in AI and create tangible outcomes the public can feel." He said, "We will secure a world-class homegrown AI model and accelerate AI innovation centered on areas of strength such as manufacturing and shipbuilding."

The ministry said its goal this year is to make the country the best at using AI through AI competitions and training in practical use. It also aims to strengthen competitiveness of an AI innovation ecosystem that nurtures next-generation AI technology, talent and startups on an AI highway. Bae stressed, "We will expand our economic territory through overseas market entry by the full-stack AI ecosystem."

It aims to secure new growth engines through science-and-technology-based innovative growth. It will 추진 the 'K-Moonshot Project' to innovate AI-based science and technology and take on national challenges. The ministry will build a full life-cycle talent development system so science and engineering talent can grow with pride, including by designating 20 national scientists.

Bae said, "We will strengthen core technologies and infrastructure for future new industries such as bio, quantum and energy." He said, "We will expand support for basic research to create a long-term and stable research environment."

It will also continue to push innovation in the government R&D system so researchers can take on challenges and immerse themselves. Bae said, "We will introduce a process-centered evaluation system and boldly break outdated regulations so changes can be felt in the field." He said, "We will 추진 market-creation projects in which ministries cooperate from technology development to commercialization so the expanded R&D budget directly leads to outcomes."

The ministry will introduce AI into deliberations on the R&D budget to strengthen investment efficiency by preventing similar and overlapping projects. In line with the intent of abolishing preliminary feasibility studies for R&D, it will apply a tailored investment and management system by type to large projects of 100 billion won or more and ensure speed.

The ministry also conveyed its commitment to revitalising regional ecosystems based on science and technology and AI, strengthening digital safety and reinforcing basic telecommunications rights.

Bae said, "We will significantly expand regional autonomous R&D budgets to build regions' capacity to be self-sustaining based on science and technology." He said, "We will invigorate regional economies by 추진 the 'four major regional AX projects' linked to regionally specialised industries."

To strengthen information protection, it will introduce punitive surcharges and upgrade the government's capability to respond to hacking. It will make it mandatory for businesses where hacking occurs to notify users so people can immediately recognise and respond to hacking incidents. It will also expand targets for surprise security inspections carried out from an attacker's perspective from the three mobile carriers to platform companies and others.

To reduce the public's telecommunications cost burden, the ministry plans to complete introducing QoS to all data plans in the first half of the year. It will also implement within this year a system requiring telecom companies to regularly 안내 users of the optimal rate plan.

Bae stressed, "As a key ministry that prepares for and takes responsibility for the nation's future, the Ministry of Science and ICT will do its best for a new leap for South Korea."