First Pledge Focuses on AI: New Vice Prime Minister-Level Ministry Proposed
Securing 500,000 Advanced AI Semiconductors Such as GPUs
On May 7, Han Ducksoo, former Prime Minister and independent presidential candidate, announced his first campaign pledge: the establishment of a vice prime minister-level "AI (Artificial Intelligence) Innovation Strategy Ministry." As internal strife within the party intensifies over a potential unification with People Power Party candidate Kim Moonsoo, Han is also ramping up efforts to promote his competitiveness as a presidential candidate.
At a briefing held at the Yeouido campaign office in Seoul that morning, Yoon Kichan, policy spokesperson for Han Ducksoo's camp, stated, "AI-related policies are currently mired in turf wars between ministries, resulting in excessive regulation due to overheated competition for dominance," adding, "We cannot continue down this path any longer."
Independent presidential candidate Han Deoksoo is delivering the keynote speech at the Kwanhun Debate held at the Koreana Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News
The AI Innovation Strategy Ministry, which Han's camp has put forward as its top priority, would be granted broad authority by integrating functions related to AI, science and technology, industry, research and development (R&D), talent cultivation, and science and technology diplomacy. The head of this new ministry would hold a vice prime minister-level position and oversee all relevant policies. In addition, while the Ministry of Economy and Finance would set the overall budget cap, the AI Innovation Strategy Ministry would be solely responsible for detailed budget planning and project implementation, with the aim of accelerating the pace of R&D.
Han's camp also pledged to expand and reorganize the current National Science and Technology Advisory Council into a "National Science and Technology Data Committee," which would be responsible for overseeing everything from data utilization to protection necessary for AI innovation. The pledge also includes a plan to secure 500,000 advanced AI semiconductors, such as GPUs, by 2030.
Explaining the decision to select AI as his first campaign pledge, Han stated, "All presidential candidates agree that AI should become a core industry for future growth," and added, "I believe it is the next president's responsibility to start by building the platform in order to establish a long-term system."
While Han's camp is proceeding with campaign events such as policy announcements, internally it is paying closer attention to the unification situation. All tasks related to campaign appointments and other preparations for the presidential election have been postponed until after unification is resolved, and even today's policy announcement was delivered by the policy spokesperson rather than Han himself.
In a phone call, a campaign official said, "We plan to make appointments and other decisions after unification is complete," and added, "Since candidate Kim has promised unification to the public, we believe it is something that must be done."
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