The Broadcasting Media Telecommunications Commission and the Ministry of National Defense said on June 11 they will expand artificial intelligence (AI) and media use education for service members to about 40,000 people a year.

The two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul on “strengthening AI and media use capabilities”. The agreement revises and expands into the AI and media field a 2019 memorandum between the agencies on fostering responsible digital citizens.

Under the agreement, the two agencies will expand existing digital ethics education. They will fully implement travelling AI and media education through the Viewers Media Foundation under the Bamito Commission. The training will be tailored by group, including officers, soldiers and political education officers. It will include media content production and practical training on verifying false and manipulated information such as deepfakes. They plan to provide education to troops in remote areas and frontline units using 12 regional centres nationwide and 10 media sharing buses.

They will also strengthen cooperation to prevent online illegal gambling. They will raise the share of illegal gambling prevention in the digital ethics education programme to 30 percent from 15 percent and jointly develop a smartphone app that blocks access to harmful sites.

Kim Jong-cheol (김종철), chairman of the Bamito Commission, said “the spread of generative AI and the development of digital media are also producing adverse effects such as false and manipulated information and online illegal gambling”. He said the commission will fully support its specialised infrastructure and travelling education so that service members can grow into digital citizens equipped with sound digital ethics and AI and media capabilities.

Ahn Gyu-back (안규백), minister of national defense, said if service members develop AI technology and media communication capabilities during military service and enter society, it will also contribute greatly to strengthening national competitiveness.