The Korea Telecommunication Operators Association (KTOA) held the ninth AI Future Value Forum on April 16 at the Seoul Science and Technology Convention Center under the theme of "Policy proposals for AI infrastructure investment to strengthen global artificial intelligence transformation (AX) competitiveness."

The AI Future Value Forum is an industry-academia-research consultative body aimed at seeking sustainable development of South Korea's AI ecosystem and directions for reasonable policy and institutional improvements. Top experts in AI, including major domestic telecom operators as well as participants from academia, the legal community and research institutes, take part.

Kim Jin-gi (김진기), a professor at Korea Aerospace University, delivered the first presentation on "Analysis of the tax revenue effects of tax credits for AI training data and data centre construction costs." Kim pointed to the reality that building data centres and high-quality training data, the physical foundation of national AI competitiveness, requires massive capital. He stressed the need for tax support and the resulting positive economic effects.

Kim Hoon-dong (김훈동), a former executive director at KT, shared global AX trends under the theme of "Impressions from MWC 2026 and AX trend insights." Based on telecom and AI technology trends confirmed at MWC 2026, he presented a vision and strategic insights on the direction domestic telecom operators should pursue to secure competitiveness in the global market.

In the plenary discussion, industry-academia-research experts, moderated by forum chair Lee Seong-yeop (이성엽), a professor at Korea University, discussed policy support measures to expand AI infrastructure investment and the role of telecom operators.

Song Jae-seong (송재성), KTOA vice chairman, stressed that "AI infrastructure is the most important asset that determines national competitiveness in the AX era" and that "bold policy support is essential to encourage pre-emptive investment."