The government has set out in a directive the authority of programme directors (PDs) and a cross-ministry implementation system for the "K-Moonshot" programme aimed at solving national challenges with AI. The move comes as controversy has continued since the launch over PDs' practical authority and status, and conflict-of-interest management measures.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on July 2 it enacted and implemented the "K-Moonshot programme operating and management rules" on June 30.

K-Moonshot is a mission-oriented research and development (R&D) programme to solve 12 major national challenges by 2035. The challenges include speeding up new drug development by a factor of 10, commercialising brain implants, developing a Korean-style small fusion demonstration reactor and verifying power generation, securing core technology for space data centres, and internalising a general-purpose physical AI model and computing.

Under the directive, PDs will establish mission-specific implementation strategies using data and AI. They will handle project planning, goal setting, progress checks, and provide direction on the use and dissemination of outcomes. PDs will also chair an operating committee made up of project stakeholders and deliberate and decide major matters needed to push the programme forward.

A cross-ministry management system has also been put in place. A "K-Moonshot Task Force" led by the science deputy prime minister and joined by vice-minister level officials from relevant ministries will oversee the basic direction of the project and key outcomes. A ministerial consultative body comprising the head of the R&D Policy Office and director-general level officials from relevant ministries will coordinate each ministry's division of roles and cooperation plans.

K-Moonshot launched in May after appointing 12 PDs, but controversy continued over PDs' status and working arrangements, the selection process and conflict-of-interest prevention measures. A PD in the AI scientist field later offered to resign. The ministry proposed not to open a new call for a successor in the AI scientist field and instead have the head of the National Science AI Research Center concurrently take on the role.

Oh Dae-hyun (오대현), director general for Future Strategic Technology Policy at the ministry, said, "With this institutional overhaul as a turning point, we will establish a PD-centred accountable operating system and develop K-Moonshot into a core platform for national strategic technologies to accelerate the creation of outcomes for each mission."