The South Korean government has announced a comprehensive strategy to drive economic structural reform by accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across major industries. This initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of key sectors, including steel, petrochemicals, automobiles, and biotechnology, by integrating AI-driven advancements and modernizing industrial processes. A significant component of the plan involves the procurement of approximately 1,000 AI robots annually to support these industrial transformations.
AI Integration Across Core Industries
The government’s ‘Economic Structural Reform Promotion Direction’ outlines a phased approach to developing and releasing AI-based public innovation and industrial upgrading plans tailored to specific sectors. These include steel, petrochemicals, electricity, shipbuilding, automobiles, and bio-industries.
Sector-Specific AI Roadmaps
- Steel and Petrochemicals: Support plans for structural reform in these industries are slated for release in the fourth quarter of this year.
- Biotechnology: A plan to foster K-Pharma Bio Frontier companies is scheduled for release in September. Additionally, a comprehensive roadmap for AI-driven new drug development will be finalized in the fourth quarter. Next year, a research and development (R&D) roadmap for bio-subcontractors will also be established.
- Electricity: In the latter half of the year, the government will devise a roadmap for developing AI manufacturing models and constructing learning data for educational purposes.
- Shipbuilding: The plan includes the development of manufacturing AI by the end of this year. Furthermore, basic plans for the development and commercialization of autonomous navigation vessels and eco-friendly vessels will be released.
- Mobility: Next year, a collaborative platform for AI in electric vehicle manufacturing will be developed.
Boosting the Robotics Sector
To foster the growth of the robotics industry, the government will initiate dedicated R&D programs for three core components: actuators, sensors, and robot hands. This initiative aims to strengthen the foundational technologies necessary for advanced robotics.
Focus on Specialized Humanoid Development
The plan also emphasizes the development of specialized humanoid robots for ten key industries: chemicals, steel, automobiles, batteries, shipbuilding, electricity, logistics, hospitals, hotels, and displays. This targeted development seeks to create AI applications that address the unique challenges and opportunities within each sector.
Economic Structural Reform Committee
The announcement was made during an ‘Emergency Economic Headquarters Meeting and Economic/Structural Reform Stakeholder Meeting,’ chaired by Koo Yoon-cheol, the Second Vice Minister of Economy and Finance. This meeting, expanded from the previous ‘Emergency Economic Headquarters Meeting’ held in the aftermath of the Middle East conflict, will now be a regular monthly gathering to oversee structural reform tasks.
Broader Economic Support and Youth Adaptation
Beyond industrial innovation, the government is also revising social welfare standards, including those for livelihood and medical security, to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are broadly distributed among the populace. Plans are also in motion to revise basic pension and severance pay standards within the third quarter. To prepare young people for the AI transition, the government will also introduce a new ‘Naeil-bae-um Card’ (Tomorrow’s Gratitude Card), likely a form of support or training voucher.
This multi-faceted approach underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging AI as a catalyst for economic revitalization, industrial modernization, and inclusive growth, ensuring that South Korea remains competitive in the rapidly evolving global landscape.
