FKI Proposes 23 Tasks for 'K-AI Great Leap'... "AI Competitiveness Requires Public-Private Cooperation"

23 Policy Tasks Proposed, Including Data Center Investment, Copyright Regulation, and Tax Support
Lim Moon-young: "Will Actively Reflect in the Action Plan... Transitioning from a Follower to a Leading Economy"

The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) has proposed 23 policy initiatives to the government aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. The recommendations, which include support for data center investments, easing of copyright regulations, and tax incentives for investments in the Seoul metropolitan area, highlight the need for public-private cooperation to ensure that Korea does not fall behind in the global AI race.

On the morning of October 17, at the second meeting of the "AI Innovation Committee" held at FKI Tower in Yeouido, Seoul, Huh Taesu, Chairman of the FKI AI Innovation Committee (also Chairman of GS Group), stated in his opening remarks, "The growth of the global AI market is far exceeding expectations." He emphasized, "For Korea, which is still in a catch-up position, to secure AI leadership, both the public and private sectors must work together, and companies must boldly take on challenges." He added, "We need to enhance data accessibility and actively adopt AI in industrial sites to create new growth engines."

The meeting was attended by 18 key AI executives from major companies, including Chairman Huh Taesu, Lim Moon-young, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Presidential National AI Strategy Committee, Lim Woo-hyung, Head of LG AI Research Institute, and Park Geun-han, Head of Hyundai Motor Company Machine Learning Lab. In addition, seven advisory committee members participated, including Lee Kyung-moo, Distinguished Professor at Seoul National University, and Yoon Ji-woong, President of the Science and Technology Policy Institute. Representatives from industry, academia, and government gathered to discuss the current status of Korea's AI ecosystem and related policy challenges.

During his presentation on "The AI Era and Knowledge Leadership," Executive Vice-Chairman Lim Moon-young said, "In a rapidly changing era, we need leadership that is unafraid of change and capable of driving innovation." He continued, "We will actively incorporate the recommendations from the business community, which we received today, into the 'Korea AI Action Plan' to be announced in November." He explained the government's policy direction, stating, "We aim to move away from the ministry-centered, catch-up economic system that has persisted for 80 years and transition to a leading economy based on collective intelligence and collaboration."

At the meeting, the FKI officially delivered its "Business Community Recommendations for a Major Leap in K-AI" to the National AI Strategy Committee. These recommendations are composed of policy initiatives designed to address practical difficulties faced by companies in adopting and expanding AI at the industrial level. The main areas include: ▲ Support for building AI data centers (AIDC) ▲ Improvement of regulations on the use of training data ▲ Tax incentives for AI facility investments in the Seoul metropolitan area ▲ Codification of a negative (pre-approval, post-regulation) regulatory principle in the AI Basic Act, comprising 23 detailed tasks across four major sectors.

The FKI stated, "AI data centers require power grids, infrastructure, and site requirements as core competitive factors, yet investments are hindered by permit delays and overlapping regulations." The organization proposed, "AIDC should be recognized as a national strategic technology, with expanded tax credits, and an 'AI Strategic Infrastructure Special Zone' should be established to reduce investment uncertainty for companies." The FKI also suggested, "The Copyright Act should be revised to allow the use of AI training data without prior consent from copyright holders, and tax benefits should be extended to AI facilities located within the Seoul metropolitan area congestion control zone."

On this day, the FKI emphasized, "The AI industry cannot grow through technology development alone," and added, "Korea can secure leadership in the global AI competition only by improving the overall industrial foundation, including data accessibility, power infrastructure, and the regulatory system."

The AI Innovation Committee, launched in March this year, is the first AI policy advisory body established by a private economic organization. It includes AI executives from leading domestic companies and academic experts. The committee operates five divisions-policy, technology development and dissemination, talent and infrastructure, governance and standards, and future growth-actively making policy proposals to the government and conducting research seminars.