Ministry of Science and ICT-led initiative aims to build world-class open AI models

A government-led "Independent AI Foundation Model Project," aimed at expanding South Korea's artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, has officially entered a full-scale competition. Driven by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), this initiative seeks to develop a world-class AI foundation model that does not rely on global big tech companies, and to open-source it to secure digital sovereignty for the domestic AI industry. A total of 15 corporate and institutional consortiums applied to participate by the July 21st deadline, signaling fierce competition.

Leading domestic big tech companies such as Naver Cloud, Kakao, SK Telecom, and KT, along with AI specialized firms like LG AI Research, NC AI (NCSOFT), Upstage, and Konan Technology, have registered as main organizers. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is the sole academic institution acting as a lead organizer. Notably, the SK Telecom consortium includes game developer Krafton, AI semiconductor startup Rebellion, and AI search platform Liner. Konan Technology, meanwhile, has teamed up with AI specialists like Synapsoft and Alchera, as well as prestigious Korean universities such as Korea University and Yonsei University, proposing the development of an AI foundation model for manufacturing.

Selected consortiums will receive comprehensive support for essential resources required for AI model development, including Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), datasets, and talent. GPU support will begin at 500 units per team, expanding to over 1,000 units through phased evaluations. Furthermore, ₩10 billion will be invested annually for data co-purchasing, and ₩3 billion to ₩5 billion annually for data construction and processing. To secure talent, the government will provide matching support worth ₩2 billion annually. The target performance for the AI model is set at over 95% compared to the latest global AI models released within six months, aiming to secure world-class technological capabilities.

The selection process will be rigorous. After reviewing the suitability of submitted documents, the MSIT will narrow down the 15 teams to 10 through a written evaluation. Subsequently, presentation evaluations will be conducted on July 30th and 31st to select the final 5 candidate teams. The final selection and agreement signing are expected to be completed by early August, following procedures such as project cost review and adjustment. The ultimately chosen 5 teams will be progressively narrowed down to 2 by 2027, standing at the forefront of domestic AI technology with the honor of being named 'K-AI Models.' This project is highly anticipated to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the domestic AI ecosystem and become a crucial turning point for South Korea to leapfrog into one of the top three AI powerhouses.