Seoul – South Korea has announced plans to develop its own AI chatbot, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, with substantial government funding aimed at bolstering the nation’s artificial intelligence capabilities. Acting President Choi Sang-mok made the declaration during a high-level committee meeting focused on AI advancement, stating that the country seeks to establish itself among the world’s top three AI powerhouses.
Choi highlighted the increasing global competition in AI, pointing out that South Korea must invest heavily to stay ahead. He noted the emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model, as both a technological challenge and an opportunity for South Korea’s AI sector.
Major AI Investments and Infrastructure Boost
To fast-track its AI development, the South Korean government plans to acquire 10,000 high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) within the year—an enormous increase from the 2,000 GPUs available at the end of 2023. These GPUs are crucial for the training and refinement of sophisticated AI models.
“The AI race has reached a pivotal stage, with massive investments pouring in globally. South Korea must take decisive action to secure its leadership position,” Choi asserted. He assured that the government would provide extensive resources and funding to foster AI innovation and research.
DeepSeek’s Data Privacy Controversy
The push for a domestic AI chatbot comes amid growing concerns regarding data security issues linked to DeepSeek, an AI chatbot developed by a Chinese artificial intelligence company. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) recently confirmed that DeepSeek had transmitted user data from South Korea to an undisclosed third party, allegedly the Chinese parent company of TikTok.
In response, South Korean regulators imposed a temporary ban on new downloads of DeepSeek, citing violations of data protection laws. According to South Korean legislation, personal information cannot be shared with third parties without explicit user consent. The incident has amplified fears over foreign AI models potentially compromising national data security.
South Korea’s AI Strategy for the Future
With the development of its own AI chatbot, South Korea aims to ensure greater data security while fostering innovation in artificial intelligence. The government’s push for stronger public-private partnerships is expected to drive the growth of AI-driven businesses and research institutions, positioning the country as a formidable competitor in the field.
“The government will fully support the development of a world-class AI model,” Choi affirmed, reinforcing South Korea’s commitment to technological sovereignty and AI leadership.
As the global AI race intensifies, South Korea’s ambitious plans underscore its strategic intent to reduce dependence on foreign AI technologies while accelerating domestic AI advancements. The success of this initiative will determine whether the nation can compete with AI giants such as OpenAI and China’s leading tech firms.
