Continuing to Promote the Independent AI Foundation Model Project While Also Advancing Frontier AI

According to AI TIMES, Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said on September 29 that the government will continue pushing ahead with the independent AI foundation model project while also advancing Frontier AI development at the national level. He said Korea now has 8 noteworthy AI models, which puts the country in the global top tier for competitiveness, and added that the focus of the project must now expand beyond performance competition to actual use. Although calls for a suspension emerged amid recent talk of a project review and the possible consideration of a separate implementation body, he said the ongoing third phase will be completed as scheduled. He also said the support framework should be revised to nurture more possibilities rather than concentrating limited resources on a small number of winners. He raised the concern that, to reduce dependence on foreign models in industry and public-sector settings, domestic models must be chosen for their cost, speed, security, and expertise. He then outlined a plan to pursue both tracks together, with one focused on developing leading models that break through technical limits and the other on fostering independent models that drive on-the-ground adoption.