Kim Yun-tae, director of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, speaks at a defense forum hosted by the institute at the institute’s headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. Photo provided by Yong Hap/EPA
May 22 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s major defense and public sector technology agencies agreed on Thursday to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence strategy, as the South Korean government aims to position the country as one of the world’s top three AI powers.
The Korea Institute for Defense Analysis (KIDA) and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) held a joint seminar in Seoul on the theme of “Strategic collaboration between public AI transformation and defense AI transformation towards national AI G3.”
The two organizations also signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation between the public and defense sectors on AI policy and infrastructure.
The agreement reflects growing recognition within South Korea that the strategic use of AI technology is becoming an important element of national competitiveness and future security.
The agencies said the partnership aims to create a national AI ecosystem that connects the private sector, government and military by integrating AI transformation efforts that have previously been pursued separately in the public and defense sectors.
As part of this effort, KIDA will expand the Defense Artificial Intelligence Policy Laboratory into a larger organization tentatively named the Defense AI Policy Center.
The planned center would oversee work ranging from defense AI strategy to data planning and validation, while maintaining a permanent partnership with NIA’s AI policy division.
Officials said the center is expected to support both the Department of Defense and the Ministry of Science, Information and Communications, and serve as a liaison between the ministries on AI policy and technology.
During the seminar, Shim Seung-bae, a senior researcher at KIDA, announced what he called the “public defense hybrid AI transformation strategy” aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of South Korea’s defense industry.
NIA AI Policy Office Director Lee Yong-jin said there is a need to rapidly integrate advanced public sector AI infrastructure and methodologies into defense applications.
Government, industry, and military participants also discussed the need for stronger AI governance and closer cooperation between defense and commercial AI companies.
Lee Seung-young, chief technology officer of LIG D&A, said open cooperation between defense contractors and private AI companies is urgently needed to upgrade advanced weapons systems.
Kim Dong-hwan, CEO of FortyTwoMaru, said AI transformation success stories and private and public sector data experience should be immediately applied to defense programs.
KIDA Chairman Kim Jong-su said that AI has become a “core game changer” that determines national competitiveness and the success of defense innovation.
NIA Chairman Kim Hyun-cheol said the NIA will focus on maximizing synergies between public AI and defense AI transformation to help South Korea become a global “AI G3” nation.
Officials said the partnership could accelerate South Korea’s broader “Defense Innovation 4.0” initiative and goal of becoming one of the world’s top four defense exporters.
— Asia Today reported. Translation by UPI
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Korea original report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260522010006708
