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Lee vows supports for industrial sectors in AI adoption

Published: 13 Mar. 2026, 11:10

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a senior officials' meeting held at the Blue House in central Seoul on March 12. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday the government will step up coordinated efforts to advance AI transformation across industrial sectors in partnership with the private sector.

Lee made the pledge in a post on the social media platform X, sharing a news report that the
Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will jointly launch bids for major AI projects aimed at developing AI solutions and applying them in factories.

"[The government] will bring together all our capabilities to swiftly push forward industrial AI transformation," Lee wrote.

Lee said the initiative is possible because his administration has lowered barriers across ministries to promote interagency cooperation.

The envisioned project is worth 432 billion won ($289.7 million) and includes programs to support smart factories, AI applications in manufacturing and their integration, with the government set to announce the bid next week.

Under the initiative, the ICT Ministry will develop AI agents capable of managing or operating industrial processes, while also advancing AI integration in everyday lives, networks and cybersecurity.

Yonhap