Democratic Party to Establish "AI Powerhouse Committee" Led by Lee Jae Myung

Democratic Party Supreme Council Meeting on the 14th
"Expanding and Restructuring the Global AI Promotion TF"

The Democratic Party of Korea is establishing the "AI Powerhouse Committee" within the party, with leader Lee Jae Myung serving as chair. This move is interpreted as an effort to advance the AI agenda at the party level, rather than merely discussing it in the form of a task force (TF) as before.

Lee Jae Myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on February 14, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun Min

After the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on the 14th, party spokesperson Han Minsoo stated, "As a follow-up to Representative Lee's speech as the leader of the negotiation bloc, we have decided to establish the AI Powerhouse Committee within the party," adding, "This is an expansion and reorganization of the Global AI Promotion TF that was formed by the party in November last year." He further noted, "Representative Lee will serve as the committee chair."

Until now, the Democratic Party has operated the AI Promotion TF, led by party member Chung Dongyoung as head and Cha Jiho as secretary. The emergence of the Chinese AI company "DeepSeek" has increased calls for a national strategy for AI development, highlighting the need for a party-level response.

Previously, in his speech as the leader of the negotiation bloc, Representative Lee emphasized the necessity of fostering an advanced technology industry centered on AI, including the establishment of a national AI data center equipped with more than 100,000 AI semiconductor GPUs and the training of 100,000 AI professionals.

Regarding the ruling party's criticism that the Democratic Party's proposed supplementary budget of 35 trillion won is populist, spokesperson Han responded, "Isn't it the ruling party's job to persuade the opposition?" He continued, "We are proposing a 35 trillion won budget to address current difficulties and prepare for the future, for the sake of future generations. How is that populism?"

Meanwhile, at the Supreme Council meeting that day, the party also considered filing a complaint with the National Assembly Ethics Committee against a People Power Party member who called Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jiweon "demented" during the previous day's government questioning session. The "demented" remark was made after Park referred to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sangmok by his nickname "Jjanggu," asking, "Shouldn't the genius Jjanggu act for the sake of Korea, rather than for Yoon Suk Yeol, the ringleader of rebellion?"