South Korea to Accelerate AI Transformation in Public Sector

SEOUL, July 9 (Yonhap) -- The government will speed up artificial intelligence (AI) transformation in the public sector, including expanding the use of a trial AI-driven work system to all central government agencies by the end of the year, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday.

"AI is no longer just the domain for technology or industry. It demands us to change the way we work and live. The government is going to transform itself in line with these changes," Han said during a national policy coordination meeting. "The AI democratic government we aim for is a capable and kind government befitting the AI era."

Han said that the "On-AI" system, an AI-driven work platform that has been in use at four ministries on a trial basis since April, will be expanded to all 47 central government agencies by year's end. The government will also seek to disclose 100 kinds of core public data for various AI-based uses.

"We will focus on cutting down on simple and repetitive work through AI to create an environment where civil servants can concentrate more on essential tasks to improve people's lives," she said.

Her office said after the meeting that the government aims to transition into a "people-centered AI government" in which AI guides the government to provide welfare services tailored to each individual so as to realize a "warm and inclusive administration that leaves no blind spot."

The government will soon determine specific projects and other details, the office said.

During the meeting, officials also discussed measures to minimize damage from heavy rains, including strengthening patrols in areas at high risk of accident and preemptively controlling access to such areas.

Also discussed were preparations for an international aviation safety assessment that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) plans to conduct on South Korea in December for the first time in 18 years.

In 2008, South Korea ranked first in the world in aviation safety, recording a 98.89 percent implementation rate of international safety standards, ahead of Canada's 95.38 percent, the United States' 91.13 percent, China's 86.64 percent and Germany's 84.2 percent.

"The government plans to use the upcoming assessment as an opportunity to further solidify and elevate our country's aviation safety foundations," the office said.