[Digital Today reporter Jin-ho Lee] The National Information Society Agency (NIA) will work with the industry convergence promotion ombudsman to hear difficulties faced by AI companies and identify tasks to improve regulations.

NIA on July 16 jointly held an "AI Industry Convergence Regulatory Innovation Corporate Meeting" with the industry convergence promotion ombudsman.

The meeting was a follow-up step to a memorandum of understanding signed by the two organisations late last year. Participants included NIA and the industry convergence promotion ombudsman as well as South Korean AI companies such as Aegis, PublicAI and JH Solution.

Participants shared regulations and institutional obstacles hindering the activation of the AI industry and discussed support needs at the government level.

In the public procurement area, attendees raised the view that existing system integration (SI) services and labour-input-based ordering structures do not properly reflect the characteristics of subscription-based software (SaaS) and platform-type AI products. They agreed that procurement and ordering systems should be upgraded so they can comprehensively consider the characteristics of AI products.

In the digital twin area, they shared performance verification systems and field application cases for AI predictive maintenance software by industry and equipment. They also discussed the need to standardise performance evaluation items and build dedicated testbeds linking industrial complexes, smart factories and testing and certification institutions.

NIA and the industry convergence promotion ombudsman plan to cooperate with related organisations so that the regulations and difficulties identified at the meeting can lead to institutional improvements.

Kim Hyung-cheol (김형철), president of NIA, said an institutional foundation reflecting on-the-ground voices is important if AI companies are to demonstrate their capabilities in public and private markets. He said NIA will strengthen cooperation with the industry convergence promotion ombudsman and others to support companies and underpin the activation of the AI industry.

Han Moo-kyung (한무경), the industry convergence promotion ombudsman, said regulatory difficulties faced by companies should be identified and improved pre-emptively in an environment where AI technology is spreading rapidly. She said she will convey opinions raised at the meeting to the relevant ministries and related organisations and work to ensure effective follow-up measures.