South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-bak speaks during a business report from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Patriot and Veterans Affairs to President Lee Jae-myung at the Ministry of Defense in Seoul, South Korea, December 18, 2025. Photo provided by Yong Hap/EPA
January 16th (Asia Today) — South Korea’s efforts to apply artificial intelligence to defense are moving from slogan to action with the launch of a new cooperation platform that brings together policy, technology, security and human resource development, organizers said.
The Defense Innovation Technology Security Association, Korea Artificial Intelligence Association, and KT announced the launch of the Defense AI Leaders Forum at the Defense Convention Center on Thursday and the signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding.
According to organizers, the event was attended by more than 150 representatives from government, industry, academia, research institutions and the military.
Organizers explained that the forum is not a one-off seminar, but a permanent platform aimed at connecting policy and on-the-ground needs, technology and operational demands.
The forum has five goals: to support the development of defense AI policy and strategy, to propose key AI technologies and application models to enhance warfighting capabilities, to build a training and education system for AI personnel, to establish a reliable defense AI system with an emphasis on security and safety, and to foster an innovation ecosystem across the military, industry, academia, and research institutions.
Co-chair and former Chief of Naval Operations Yang Yongmo said the forum aims to boost both defense AI innovation and the country’s broader AI competitiveness by bringing together government, military, industry, universities and research institutions.
Kim Seung-joo, chairman of the Korea Defense Innovation and Technology Security Association, said defense AI “cannot be achieved through technology alone,” adding that the association will work to link policy and field operations, security and industry.
Kim Hyun-chul, chairman of the Korea Artificial Intelligence Association, said the priority is to connect member companies’ AI technology to real-world defense use cases and develop viable business models for the technology to meet demand.
Ahn Chang-young, vice president of KT’s enterprise division, said that applying AI in the defense field requires understanding the security environment and building an ecosystem where industry, academia, research institutes, and the military work as one team. He said KT will support defense development through its AI and communications capabilities and experience in public and defense projects.
Jeong Jun-beom, director of the Ministry of Defense’s Defense Artificial Intelligence Planning Agency, said AI is already reshaping defenses by increasing combat efficiency and speeding decision-making. He said defense AI must not only be fast and powerful, but also “safe, responsible and reliable.”
At the forum, Shim Seung-bae, chairman of the Defense and Security Subcommittee under the Presidential Commission on National AI Strategy, announced what he called the Defense AI Action Plan, which focuses on governance reform, AI infrastructure, and expanding the defense AI ecosystem. Shim said the aim is to build a smarter military that works together through data and AI as South Korea adapts to changes such as troop reductions and evolving battlefield conditions.
Organizers said the forum’s next test will be whether it delivers lasting results, such as practical models, policy recommendations and measurable results.
— Asia Today reported. Translation by UPI
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