Bae Kyung Hoon: "Will Develop World-Class AI Technology"... AI Industry Leaders Appointed to First Cabinet

LG AI Research Institute Head Nominated for Science Minister
Han Seongsuk, Former Naver CEO, Tapped for SMEs and Startups
Business Leaders with Field Experience Take Center Stage in Government... Accelerating AI Policy
Concerns Over AI-Centric Appointments
Balancing Basic Science, Telecommunications, and Industry Remains a Challenge

Lee Jae Myung government’s first Minister of Science and ICT nominee, Bae Kyung Hoon, Head of LG AI Research Institute. Photo by Kim Hyun Min kimhyun81@

Bae Kyung Hoon, the nominee for Minister of Science and ICT, commented on June 24 regarding the level of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in South Korea, stating, "I firmly believe there is significant potential. If computing infrastructure and data are supplemented, we can develop world-class AI and build a robust service ecosystem." On his way to the personnel hearing preparation office at the Gwanghwamun Post Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Bae told reporters, "As someone who has been engaged in AI research and development in the industry, it is an immense honor to be able to dedicate the experience and know-how I have accumulated over the years to the advancement of the Republic of Korea," expressing his thoughts on being nominated as minister.

With AI industry leaders being placed at the forefront of the first cabinet appointments of the Lee Jae Myung administration, there is growing consensus that a technology-driven, pragmatic approach to governance is taking shape. Bae Kyung Hoon, Head of LG AI Research Institute, has been nominated as Minister of Science and ICT, while Han Seongsuk, former CEO of Naver, has been nominated as Minister of SMEs and Startups. The AI industry responded, "It was unexpected, but we wholeheartedly welcome these appointments," expressing high expectations.

Both nominees are leading private-sector experts who have directly planned and executed AI strategies in the business field. Bae is the founding head of LG AI Research Institute and developed the Korean large-scale AI model 'EXAONE.' Han, during her tenure as CEO of Naver, led the venture investment platform 'D2SF' and the creative ecosystem-building project 'Project Flower.'

Han Seongsuk, former CEO of Naver, nominated as the first Minister of SMEs and Startups in the Lee Jae-myung administration. Photo by Naver

The industry interprets these appointments as the "institutionalization of pragmatic leadership." Cho Joon Hee, President of the Korea Artificial Intelligence and Software Industry Association, said, "Having worked in the industry for nearly 25 years, I feel that this time, we may finally see genuinely industry-based AI policies. Very few people in Korea have hands-on experience with LLMs, and Bae Kyung Hoon and Ha Jung Woo, Chief of Future AI Planning at the Presidential Office, are the practical leaders; most others are professors." He added, "Both were born in the mid-to-late 1970s, and they are not just young appointees but front-line experts who have led technological advances, so expectations are high."

A representative of the Korea Internet Corporations Association said, "There are high expectations in the industry because private-sector figures with actual LLM development experience have joined the government." Their understanding of the field is also considered a strength. An industry insider commented, "Bae is not just a strategist; he has worked alongside developers in the field, so his AI strategy will not remain a declaration disconnected from engineers but can serve as an opportunity to reflect the voice of the industry." A business community official noted, "Appointing businesspeople who understand internal corporate concerns to key positions aligns with the new administration's pragmatic approach. The government has closely observed and understood the achievements of business leaders, which likely made these appointments possible."

However, there is some surprise within the Ministry of Science and ICT. A ministry official said, "While his expertise in AI is undeniable, the ministerial post has typically been filled by individuals with academic or administrative backgrounds, so there is some sense of surprise internally." There are also concerns that core tasks of the ministry, such as basic science and telecommunications policy, could be sidelined in favor of AI technology. Academia has advised, "While AI policy has become central to the technology industry, the government must also play a balancing role in designing the overall ecosystem. Even AI is an ecosystem issue intertwined with industry, data, and education, so a balance between pragmatism and research is necessary."