"National Fate Hinges on AI... Committee as the Driving Force"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the inaugural meeting and first session of the Presidential Committee on National Artificial Intelligence held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 26th, "The National Artificial Intelligence Committee will take the lead and serve as a driving force in the AI transformation, which is crucial to our nation's destiny," adding, "We will establish and thoroughly implement meticulous strategies across all areas, including research and development (R&D), infrastructure, and legal and institutional frameworks, to propel South Korea into one of the top three AI powers by 2027."
President Yoon presided over the 'National Artificial Intelligence Committee Inauguration Ceremony and 1st Meeting' held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on the same day, saying, "As AI becomes a decisive factor in national capabilities and economic growth, and a core element of the economy and security, major countries around the world are fiercely competing to secure AI technology and leadership in the digital hegemony race." The Four Seasons Hotel is the venue where, eight years ago, the historic Go match between 9-dan Lee Sedol and the AI program 'AlphaGo' took place.
In his opening remarks, President Yoon announced the vision of becoming one of the 'Top 3 AI Powers' along with the declaration of a 'national all-out effort' to achieve this by establishing the 'National AI Computing Center' through public-private joint investment and promoting AI transformation across industries and society to drive increased private sector investment in AI. He also expressed his commitment to proactively reform regulations so that copyright and personal data protection rules uphold core values without becoming obstacles to innovation.
The event was organized to widely publicize the launch of the National Artificial Intelligence Committee, the central hub for national AI policy formulation, and to present the country's AI vision and blueprint. President Yoon had previously announced the 'AI and Semiconductor Initiative' at a semiconductor issue review meeting in April and revealed plans to establish the presidential-level 'National Artificial Intelligence Committee.'
President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with Yeom Jae-ho, President of Taejae University and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Committee on National Artificial Intelligence, at the appointment ceremony for private members of the committee held on the 26th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The newly launched National Artificial Intelligence Committee, chaired by President Yoon himself, will directly oversee the national AI strategy. The committee consists of 30 private members who are AI experts, 10 government members at the ministerial level from key ministries, as well as the Presidential Office’s Chief of Science and Technology and the 3rd Deputy Director of the National Security Office. It is planned to serve as the central point of a public-private one-team effort that unites nationwide innovation capabilities related to AI.
Vice Chairman is Yeom Jae-ho, President of Taejae University. The following were appointed: ▲Chair of the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee, Professor Cho Sung-bae of Yonsei University’s Department of Computer Science ▲Chair of the Industry and Public Subcommittee, Ko Jin, former Chair of the Digital Platform Government Committee ▲Chair of the Talent and Infrastructure Subcommittee, Professor Kim Sun of Seoul National University’s Department of Computer Engineering ▲Chair of the Legal and Institutional Subcommittee, Kang Min-gu, CEO of Law Firm Doul ▲Chair of the Safety and Trust Subcommittee, Professor Oh Hye-yeon of KAIST’s School of Computing.
President Yoon introduced, "Since April, we have been promoting the AI and Semiconductor Initiative to dominate the future AI semiconductor market. As a result of the Korea-US summit, we are operating the 'Korea-US AI Working Group' and have also opened the 'Global AI Frontier Lab,' a joint Korea-US AI R&D center." He expressed concern, stating, "Various side effects have emerged due to digital divides, including fake news threatening liberal democracy and human rights violations caused by the misuse of deepfake technology," and added that active measures are being taken to prevent the adverse effects of deepfakes.
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