"Create Ministry of Science and AI, Vice Prime Minister Should Lead"…Political Circles Boost AI Ahead of Presidential Election

Jeong Dong-young: "Deputy Prime Minister for Science and AI Should Take Priority Over Economy"
Ahn Cheol-soo's Presidential Bid: "Training One Million AI Talents"

"There is a need to create a Deputy Prime Minister for the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence and place them ahead of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, making the nation's goals and direction centered on establishing the country through artificial intelligence (AI)." (8th, Jeong Dong-young, member of the Democratic Party of Korea)

"Since the Ministry of Science and ICT is the main department leading the three major game changers?AI, bio, and quantum?its current organization is insufficient. In the next government, it should be elevated to a Deputy Prime Minister level." (7th, Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Science and ICT)

Jeong Dong-yeong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a congratulatory speech at the discussion forum titled "Making Korea the Country That Uses AI Best in the World," held on the afternoon of the 8th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Photo by Lee Myung-hwan

With the early presidential election becoming a reality following the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, active proposals are emerging in the National Assembly and government to create a new AI-related ministry and elevate its status.

On the afternoon of the 8th, at a forum titled "Making Korea the Country that Uses AI Best in the World" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Representative Jeong emphasized the necessity of a Deputy Prime Minister for the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence. Regarding the development of the domestic AI industry since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT, he pointed out, "Korea has been asleep for two years," adding, "Although the National AI Committee was launched belatedly in September last year, it drifted again after failing to hold a proper meeting due to martial law two months later."

He then introduced an anecdote from the meeting between then-President-elect Kim Dae-jung and Masayoshi Son (Son Jeong-ui), chairman of SoftBank, in 1998, emphasizing the leadership capabilities needed in the AI era. Representative Jeong said, "When Kim asked what strategy was necessary for Korea to lead in informatization, Chairman Son replied that 'the key is to create citizens who are good at using computers,'" adding, "Within two to three years, Korea became the country with the fastest internet speed." Representative Jeong was the spokesperson for then-President-elect Kim Dae-jung at the time.

The Ministry of Science and ICT, the main department, also advocated for expanding AI-related organizations and supplementary budgets. Minister Yoo mentioned at a monthly briefing the day before that the Minister of Science and ICT should be elevated to Deputy Prime Minister level, stating, "Discussions on supplementary budgets must proceed quickly to introduce graphic processing units (GPUs), which are essential for AI research." He added, "If nine months pass, we will be three years behind, and it will be almost impossible to catch up by 2030," urging, "Both ruling and opposition parties should not consider this an issue for political strife but think about the nation's future and promptly hold a ruling-opposition-government council to approve the supplementary budget."

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On the 8th, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party who declared his presidential candidacy, also presented AI talent cultivation as a key pledge. At his presidential candidacy declaration held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul that morning, Ahn proposed a new five-year economic development plan including the training of one million AI talents. He said, "To leap forward as an AI powerhouse, I will make national investments through a new five-year economic development plan, similar to President Park Chung-hee's economic development plan," adding, "By appealing to companies and citizens, the government and businesses will cooperate to invest hundreds of trillions of won in the AI industry to catch up with advanced countries."

Meanwhile, Kang Ki-jung, mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, held a press conference that day to announce the "Gwangju City Presidential Election Pledge," a 15-task, 40-project plan worth 81 trillion won. This included pledges to be proposed to each political party and candidate, among which was the establishment of the Solar City AI Supercluster Hub. Mayor Kang emphasized, "We will create 'AI Model City - The BRAIN Gwangju,' where AI-led growth turns data into money and AI becomes the economy," adding, "While accelerating the AX Demonstration Valley Project (AI Phase 2), we will foster Korea's AI competitiveness by developing an 'AI economic model' where anyone can trade data and AI is realized anywhere."