Latest news with #BaeKyung-hoon
Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
CODIT Showcases AI-Powered Policy Agent at APEC Digital & AI Forum
– Launches AI-driven policy dashboard for government and industry leaders from 21 APEC economies – Set to present digital transformation and AI collaboration strategies at APEC Dialogue on August 12 SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CODIT, an AI-powered legal and policy intelligence platform, participated in the corporate exhibition at the APEC 2025 Digital & AI Forum held on August 5 in Songdo, Incheon. During the forum, the company presented its real-time policy monitoring platform designed to improve access to timely and accurate regulatory intelligence. The forum, held as an official side event of the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting, convened government and industry leaders from all 21 APEC member economies. At its exhibition booth, CODIT introduced its dynamic dashboard that curates and summarizes policy developments related to core forum themes, including artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The platform attracted significant attention from policymakers and ICT experts across the region. Korea's Minister of Science and ICT, Bae Kyung-hoon, visited the booth to explore the platform firsthand. Attendees noted that in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment like Korea's, having concise policy updates available in English significantly enhances accessibility and practical usability for global stakeholders. The AI-powered dashboard's ability to automatically classify and summarize legislation, press releases, and news articles based on user-defined topics, was particularly well received. CODIT currently provides policy response support services built on Korea's largest policy data coverage and proprietary AI summarization engine. In the second half of this year, the company plans to launch Chat CODIT, an interactive AI agent that enables real-time Q&A on policy information across major jurisdictions, including Korea and the United States. "It was truly meaningful to receive direct feedback from policymakers who recognized CODIT as a practical solution for real-world policy response." said Ji Eun Chung, CEO of CODIT. "As digital environments evolve at unprecedented speed, the ability to deliver cross-border policy insights with speed and accuracy has never been greater. CODIT will continue to grow as a global platform that empowers better, faster policy decisions." CODIT is also scheduled to speak at the upcoming APEC Public-Private Dialogue on August 12, where it will share strategic perspectives on digital transformation and AI cooperation. As APEC advances its regional agenda on AI collaboration, the session will highlight how AI-powered policy platforms can help build a more inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Seoul draws red line: Why high-precision map data excluded from US trade deal
Seoul stands firm as Google, Apple push to export sensitive map data A key issue pushed by US tech giants Google and Apple ― the export of South Korea's high-precision map data ― was notably excluded from last week's Korea-US tariff negotiations, underscoring Seoul's firm stance that its national security is not up a bargaining chip. According to industry sources and the presidential office on Sunday, the Korea-US trade discussions on Thursday focused largely on conventional tariff and commerce issues. The topic of high-precision map data exports, previously flagged by the Office of the US Trade Representative, was not included in the agenda. "There were extensive talks with USTR on high-precision map data and agricultural products, but those topics were set aside as the talks progressed rapidly on trade issues," the presidential office said in a press briefing Thursday, adding that such issues were "defended" from negotiation. Industry observers note that the Korean government's omission of the topic reflects a deliberate decision to prioritize national security and industrial sovereignty over potential trade frictions. 'Map data is a national security asset,' said an industry source who requested anonymity. 'It's meaningful that the government upheld the principle that security cannot be treated as a matter of trade.' Google filed its third request in February to export 1:5,000-scale map data to its overseas servers, citing the inability to offer full-fledged mapping services in Korea without it. Apple submitted a similar request in June, although unlike Google, it has domestic servers and has expressed willingness to accommodate government demands related to data masking and security protocols. The 1:5,000 scale maps, which display real-world distances of 50 meters as 1 centimeter on the map, are essential for applications like urban planning and infrastructure development. Google and Apple argue that current 1:25,000 scale maps are inadequate for navigation services, especially for autonomous vehicles and tourist guidance. The map data export debate reignited in March, when the USTR labeled South Korea as the only major market restricting location-based data exports. Domestic industry players' concerns have since grown over the possibility of security breaches and an unfair advantage for foreign tech firms. During a recent confirmation hearing, Kim Yun-duk, nominee for minister of land, infrastructure and transport, echoed these concerns. 'Map data of 1:5,000 scale is highly sensitive and no other country in the world has disclosed it for export,' he said. 'Security and public safety take precedence over trade concerns.' ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon and Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young both underscored the need to assess national security risks and the impact on domestic industries before considering such exports. Although Google proposed more flexible terms ― including data blurring, direct communication channels and senior-level engagement ― it sparked backlash by requesting the exact coordinates of security facilities for blurring purposes. Experts warned it could effectively hand over the precise locations of military and sensitive sites to a foreign private entity. Cases such as the exposure of Ukrainian military facilities via Google Maps during the ongoing Russian invasion there have fueled such concerns, highlighting the possibility of high-resolution map misuse in wartime and the risk of terror attacks. The debate also touches on economic fairness. Despite operating in Korea, Google pays less in corporate taxes because it does not possess local server infrastructure. Last year, it paid only 17.2 billion won ($12.4 million) in corporate taxes to the Korean government, far less than local tech giants Naver (384.2 billion won) and Kakao (157.1 billion won), both of which operate domestic data centers and use locally sourced map data. Google and Apple's push for high-precision maps is widely seen as part of a strategic effort to gain first-mover advantages in artificial intelligence-powered industries such as autonomous driving, augmented reality and digital twins. A Korean government panel composed of eight ministries ― including the Defense, Foreign Affairs and ICT ministries ― is to meet Friday to deliberate on Google's request to export high-precision national base maps, according to the National Geographic Information Institute. The Geospatial Data Export Review Committee, responsible for reviewing the overseas transfer of geospatial data deemed sensitive to national security, is also considering postponing its decision, which is currently due by Aug. 11. The final outcome may be influenced by the results of a potential Korea–US summit, expected to take place sometime in the same week. The committee had previously deferred its decision in May, citing the need for further discussions on the implications for national security and domestic industries. At that time, the review period was extended by 60 days to Aug. 11. "The deadline for a decision will likely be extended after each ministry presents its position within the consultative body,' said a government official who requested anonymity. 'There are concerns that concluding the Korea-US summit could affect other agenda items scheduled for the talks.' 'Although the topic was excluded from this week's round of tariff talks, the outcome of the interministerial review could alter the situation. We hope the panel makes a wise decision,' the anonymous industry source said, speaking late last week. Calls are also growing for a more comprehensive legal framework. For nearly two decades, foreign companies have repeatedly sought access to Korea's precision mapping data, yet the Korean government still lacks codified standards or regulations for such requests. In June, Ahn Gyu-back, the current defense minister who was then a lawmaker, introduced an amendment to the Act on the Establishment and Management of Spatial Information, proposing to restrict the export of maps scaled finer than 1:25,000 and to mandate domestic server infrastructure and security safeguards for any approved exports.
Korea Herald
17-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
New science minister pledges to make Korea AI powerhouse
Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon officially began his tenure on Thursday, becoming the first Cabinet minister to take office under the Lee Jae Myung administration. In his inaugural speech at Sejong Government Complex, Bae pledged to lead a national transformation powered by artificial intelligence and advanced science and technology. 'The future of our nation will depend on how we design strategies and respond to the coming wave of innovation and change,' he said. Bae is one of Korea's leading private-sector AI experts. As the founding president of LG AI Research, the artificial intelligence arm of LG Group, he played a key role in spearheading the development of the conglomerate's hyperscale language model Exaone from December 2020 until he was nominated as the new minister. He also served in key government advisory roles related to AI governance and privacy. He previously held the chief position of the AI technology division at LG Uplus and practiced various AI applications at SK Telecom. Bae has earned a Ph.D. in electronic engineering from Kwangwoon University and completed an executive program for AI: Implications for Business Strategy from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The new minister emphasized that Korea, now standing among the ranks of advanced nations, must break away from outdated approaches to achieve its next goals, including raising the country's potential growth rate to 3 percent and joining the world's top five economic powers. He went on to emphasize the need for a bold transformation, saying, 'We must secure a unique competitive edge that no other country can replicate, and bring about a groundbreaking shift through a national transition rooted in AI and cutting-edge science and technology to enhance efficiency and productivity.' Highlighting AI as the driving force of the new era, Bae said its influence is rapidly permeating all aspects of society beyond industry and the economy. To navigate the shift, he proposed fostering top-tier talent, building an innovation-friendly ecosystem and spearheading a nationwide transformation centered on AI and cutting-edge technologies. He outlined four key policy directions: establishing a robust AI ecosystem, revitalizing the research and development innovation landscape, nurturing world-class talent in AI and science, and addressing pressing challenges closely tied to people's daily lives. "To achieve the vision of becoming one of the world's top three AI powerhouses — the first pledge of the People's Sovereignty Government — we will build a robust AI ecosystem and create an environment where AI is accessible to all,' the minister said. He emphasized the importance of establishing AI and digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity systems, securing foundational AI models, promoting AI transformation and supporting AI semiconductors. Bae also announced plans to restore the grassroots-level basic research initiatives that had been phased out, ensuring stable and sufficient R&D funding. 'We will support the adoption of AI within scientific research itself,' he said. In terms of talent development, Bae proposed enhancing support for young scientists, establishing AI-centered universities, and improving working conditions at government-funded research institutes.
Korea Herald
10-02-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
LG's Exaone AI model matches DeepSeek in cost efficiency: Epoch AI
LG AI Research's hyperscale artificial intelligence multimodal model has been recognized as notable AI by a leading US research institution, especially receiving high marks for cost efficiency, similar to China's DeepSeek. According to a recent report released by Epoch AI, LG's Exaone 3.5 32B model, unveiled in December 2023, has been included in its "notable AI category." Epoch AI, composed of scientists and AI experts, evaluates and selects AI models based on performance, usage frequency and other criteria. This marks the first time in two years that a Korean company's AI model has been recognized in this category. LG AI Research head Bae Kyung-hoon said at a conference hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT that the model was developed with an investment of about 7 billion won ($4.8 million). This amount is lower than the estimated $6 million that DeepSeek reportedly spent on developing its V3 model. LG's AI research team has optimized the model for practical industrial applications. The initial Exaone 1.0, launched in late 2021, featured 300 billion parameters, but the latest 3.5 model has been scaled down to 32 billion parameters, improving efficiency and reducing costs. The model is currently deployed in LG Group's generative AI service, ChatExaone, and its employees use it. In addition to LG, Korean AI models from Naver and Samsung Electronics, as well as Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yonsei University and Korea University, have been included in Epoch AI's latest list of notable AI models.
