Chairman Choi Hojung Visits Seoul AI Hub... "Will Lead the AI Industry"

Special Committee on Strengthening AI Competitiveness Formed and Operated by the Council

On July 21, Choi Hojung, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, visited the Seoul AI Hub located on Taebong-ro in Seocho-gu to directly review the current status of Seoul's artificial intelligence (AI) industry development. Key figures present at the site included National Assembly member Shin Dongwook, First Deputy Mayor for Administration Kim Taegyun, and Seoul AI Hub Director Park Chanjin.

Chairman Choi Hojung visiting Seoul AI Hub. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Council.

During this visit, Chairman Choi received briefings on the development of AI infrastructure in the Yangjae area and the operational achievements of the Seoul AI Hub. He also toured major tenant companies and institutions, including the Air Force AI New Technology Convergence Center, the Artificial Intelligence Industry Association, and the KAIST Graduate School of AI. In addition, he held meetings with Kim Kigeung, Director of the National AI Research Center, and Chung Song, Dean of the KAIST Graduate School of AI, to hear about the status of AI industry development at the national level.

Chairman Choi stated, "The emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, earlier this year demonstrated that the global artificial intelligence industry is being reorganized toward low cost and high efficiency." He added, "The council will do its utmost to foster talent and build infrastructure so that Seoul can lead the AI industry, which holds a wide range of possibilities."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is focusing on securing global competitiveness by nurturing approximately 10,000 AI professionals annually, expanding core infrastructure, and creating an AI fund worth around 500 billion won. In addition, centered around the Seoul AI Hub, the city is accelerating the creation of an AI-driven industrial ecosystem by supporting cooperation among startups, research institutes, and the industry sector.

Meanwhile, in his opening address at the special session in February, Chairman Choi called on the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Office of Education to work together to establish a systematic foundation for nurturing digital talent. The council has formed and is operating a Special Committee on Strengthening AI Competitiveness, continuing its legislative efforts to make Seoul a leading city in the global AI competition.