Why is the science ministry increasing ICT research spending next year?

The ministry said the increase is part of an ongoing effort to secure leadership in the global AI race. It described the budget as a way to strengthen investment in AI-related technologies and talent.

How will the science ministry split funding between physical AI, sovereign AI and future technologies?

The ministry earmarked 662.1 billion won for the three mega projects, 384.9 billion won for full-stack physical AI technology, 431.1 billion won for sovereign AI technologies and 338.9 billion won for future technologies. It also set aside 354.4 billion won for talent development.

Science ministry seeks nearly $2.2 bil. in ICT research budget next year

Q: What does South Korea’s science ministry plan to fund in its 2027 ICT research budget?

The ministry plans to focus on three mega projects, next-generation AI technologies, AI transformation, future technologies and talent development. It said the proposal will total 39.5 trillion won, with nearly 3 trillion won set aside for ICT R&D.

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Summary

South Korea’s science ministry plans to invest nearly 3 trillion won in ICT research and development next year as part of its push to strengthen the country’s position in the global AI race. The amount is 23.6 percent higher than 2026 and will be included in a 2027 R&D budget proposal worth 39.5 trillion won. The ministry said it will concentrate funding on five areas, including three mega projects, next-generation AI, AI transformation, future technologies and talent development.

Key Facts

The ministry held an inaugural budget planning workshop with officials from research labs, the private sector and academia in central Seoul.
The government’s three mega projects will receive 662.1 billion won for physical AI technologies, AI semiconductors and data centers.
The ministry allocated 384.9 billion won for full-stack physical AI technology, from world foundation models to hardware components such as AI accelerators.
A total of 431.1 billion won will go to sovereign AI technologies, including 169.1 billion won for cybersecurity-related research.
Future technologies will receive 338.9 billion won, with funding focused on quantum technology and next-generation networks to build an AI expressway connecting AI computing with networks.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 15, 2026 2:39 pm KST

Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon speaks at a meeting on a government-led project to develop homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) in Seoul, in this photo provided by the ministry, Sept. 4. Yonhap

Korea's science ministry said Tuesday it plans to invest nearly 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) in the research and development (R&D) of information and communications technologies (ICT) next year as part of an ongoing effort to secure leadership in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race.

The amount is a 23.6 percent hike compared with 2026, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. It will be included in the ministry's 2027 R&D budget proposal, which amounts to 39.5 trillion won.

The science ministry said it held an inaugural budget planning workshop with officials from research labs, private sector and academia in central Seoul, and decided to focus investments in five areas: the government's "three mega projects," next-generation AI technologies, AI transformation, the securing of future technologies and talent development.

For the government's "tripolar mega projects," the ministry has earmarked a total of 662.1 billion won. The amount will be invested in the R&D of physical AI technologies, AI semiconductors and data centers.

In particular, the ministry has allocated 384.9 billion won, the largest amount of the budget, toward securing "full-stack" technology in physical AI, from world foundation models to hardware components, such as AI accelerators.

A total of 431.1 billion won will be allocated to securing sovereign AI technologies, including 169.1 billion won earmarked for cybersecurity-related research.

In the area of future technologies, the ministry has set out 338.9 billion won. The money will be concentrated on areas of quantum technology and next-generation networks to establish what the ministry described as an "AI expressway" connecting AI computing with networks.

For talent development, the ministry seeks to invest a total of 354.4 billion won. It will also expand local hubs for joint research with global scholars while pushing forward with developing key technological standards related to AI, the ministry added.

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