K-AI Passes First Evaluation... LG Research Director Woo Hyung Lim: "Will Lead Ecosystem Development"

Government Announces First Round of AI Foundation Project
LG AI Research Institute Advances with SK Telecom and Upstage
Director Woo Hyung Lim: "Exaone Will Become the Engine of Korea's AI Ecosystem"

On January 15, Woo Hyung Lim, Co-Director of LG AI Research Institute, commented on the institute's advancement to the second round of the government-led 'Independent AI Foundation Model Project' after passing the first evaluation. He stated, "This result is a significant inflection point in our journey, which began with Exaone and has continued without pause, toward an even greater leap forward." He emphasized, "The institute will further advance K-Exaone, establishing it as a national AI model that evolves into a global ecosystem."

Future Business Forum - Woo Young Lim, Executive Director of LG AI Research Institute, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

On this day, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), and the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) announced the results of the first-stage evaluation of the project, revealing that LG AI Research Institute, together with SK Telecom and Upstage, advanced to the second round. LG reported that its independently developed AI model, Exaone, received the highest scores in all three evaluation categories: benchmarking, experts, and users.

Director Lim stressed, "K-Exaone standing shoulder to shoulder with global leaders is a decisive indicator of Korea's leap toward becoming one of the world's top three AI powerhouses." He also expressed his ambition, stating, "LG AI Research Institute will not stop at securing a globally competitive model, but will also lead the comprehensive establishment of an AI ecosystem, including the widespread application in industrial fields and the cultivation of core talent."

He continued, "The innovation that began with Exaone will now become the driving engine leading the AI ecosystem across Korea's entire industry, beyond the achievements of individual companies." He pledged, "Based on the unique technological capabilities of K-Exaone, we will secure technological leadership in the global market and do our utmost to help Korea emerge as an AI powerhouse."

He further outlined future plans, saying, "This first-phase model serves as a solid foundation for advancing to frontier-level AI. From here, we will enter a full-scale performance enhancement phase to realize a complete K-Exaone with global competitiveness."

LG AI Research Institute was established in 2020 under the leadership of Koo Kwangmo, Chairman of LG Corporation. Since then, the institute has recognized the importance of independent AI foundation models and has focused on advanced AI technology research. The industry sees this achievement as recognition of the institute's AI foundation model development capabilities, accumulated over the past five years.

Meanwhile, in his 2026 New Year's address, Chairman Koo stated, "At an inflection point where a new future is opening, we must go beyond our previous methods of success and leap forward through new innovation." He added, "For innovation, both our thinking and actions must change, and 'selection and concentration' is the starting point."