South Korea Launches AI for All Public Utility Initiative

Lee Jae Myung and the South Korean government are launching the AI for All initiative, which treats premium generative AI services as a public utility available for free to the entire population. The program seeks to establish national AI sovereignty and decrease the country's dependence on AI models developed in the United States and China.

Integrated with government systems, the services will assist citizens with medical appointments, tax advice, and apartment hunting. Small businesses will gain access to tax tabulation tools and eligibility checks for government support. Three tech consortia, including the operator of the Kakao app and the nation's two largest telecom companies, will deliver the services.

To facilitate the rollout, the government will provide up to 512 Nvidia B200 chips and cover operational expenses. The administration has allocated approximately 10 trillion won ($7.2 billion) for AI spending in 2026. Beta testing is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with a full national rollout expected by the end of the year.