“Jeju AI Basic Social Goals”... ‘Tech Plus Jeju 2026’ opens

(Jeju = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ho-cheon = 'Tech Plus (t.e.c.h.+) Jeju 2026' hosted by Jeju Island with the theme of 'Artificial Intelligence Transformation (AX), Leading Korea through Jeju's Great Transformation' was held at the Jeju Halla Convention Center on the afternoon of the 13th.

On this day, Jeju Governor Wi Sang-gon explained the direction for developing Jeju into a demonstration city of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation in Korea, with the goal of becoming an 'AI future opportunity autonomous city where new opportunities are realized first.'

Governor above announced that he will push for a major transformation of artificial intelligence in seven key areas, including governance, administration, residents, industry, infrastructure, talent, and ethics, in order to verify technology and spread results in Jeju.

At the same time, the final goal was to create a 'Jeju AI basic society' where all residents can use AI in their daily lives and livelihoods and enjoy the results of technological innovation.

He emphasized, “The success or failure of Jeju’s great transformation in artificial intelligence will be evaluated not by how much AI has been introduced, but by how much the lives of the residents have changed.”

In an expert lecture that day, Jae-seong Lee, head of the Future Vision Research Institute, presented a plan to develop a new growth engine by connecting Jeju's clean energy and industrial sites with AI technology.

Kim Cheol-hyun, director of the Korean Society of Local Autonomy, explained how to connect AI analysis to actual judgment and execution and improve data verification and work standards based on cases of disease and pest observation in agricultural fields.

Professor Kim Sang-yoon of Kyung Hee University emphasized human capabilities such as changes in work performance methods due to the spread of AI, division of human roles, problem definition, and critical judgment.

‘Tech Plus Jeju’ is a knowledge concert that has been held since 2013. Through the convergence of technology, economy, culture, and people, we have shared the flow of future change and sought the direction of Jeju's development.

In 2027, Jeju Island will introduce an 'AI resident assistant' that will provide residents with necessary information 24 hours a day, and will promote the introduction of customized AI education and vouchers for residents.

A 'Resident Hackathon' (an intensive problem-solving event) will also be held where residents directly suggest problems in their daily lives and find solutions using AI.

The province also plans to expand the 100% renewable energy-based green AI data center to 40 MW in the second stage after verification in the first stage.

In the field of talent training, joint education and research with the four major science and technology institutes will be gradually expanded by 2030, starting with a collaborative joint graduate school between the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Jeju National University next year.

In Haengwon-ri, Jeju City, a smart aquaculture cluster that manages farm water quality and facilities using AI is already being built, and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) is demonstrating a pig farming smart farm in Jeju that manages the livestock environment using AI.