Lee vows supports for industrial sectors in AI adoption

▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 12, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee-artificial intelligence

Lee vows supports for industrial sectors in AI adoption

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, March 13 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday the government will step up coordinated efforts to advance artificial intelligence (AI) transformation across industrial sectors in partnership with the private sector.

Lee made the pledge in a post on social media platform X, sharing a news report that the ministries of science and ICT, industry, and SMEs will jointly launch bids for major AI projects aimed at developing AI solutions and applying them in factories.

"(The government) will bring together all our capabilities to swiftly push forward industrial AI transformation," Lee wrote.

Lee said the initiative is possible because his administration has lowered barriers across ministries to promote interagency cooperation.

The envisioned project is worth 432 billion won (US$289.7 million) and includes programs to support smart factories, AI applications in manufacturing and their integration, with the government set to announce the bid next week.

Under the initiative, the Ministry of Science and ICT will develop AI agents capable of managing or operating industrial processes, while also advancing AI integration in everyday lives, networks and cybersecurity.

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