**Baek Gyeong-hoon, Vice Prime Minister, Temporarily Holds Multiple Positions; Presides Over First Operations Committee Meeting**
**Im Moon-young and Ha Jung-woo Leave the National AI Control Tower**
**Policy Promotion Inevitably Paused… Concerns Arise Over Potential Obstruction to ‘Leap to AI Top 3 Nations’ Amid Record-Breaking Budget**
According to Park Se-jung from Herald Economy, Baek Gyeong-hoon, Vice Prime Minister for Science and Technology and Minister of Science and ICT, will also serve as the acting deputy chair of the National AI Strategy Committee. This decision comes as a measure to fill the vacancy left by the election bid of former Deputy Chairman Im Moon-young. However, there are criticisms labeling this as a “stopgap” solution.
In addition to Im, Ha Jung-woo, the former chief of future AI planning, has also left his position due to his election campaign, leaving a vacuum at the control tower. With key leaders necessary for detailed policy planning departing one after another, the government’s initiative to drive the “leap to AI top 3 nations” seems jeopardized.
On the 14th, the committee announced that Vice Prime Minister Baek, who is a non-executive member, will temporarily assume the role of a full-time deputy chairman and operate the committee. Consequently, Vice Prime Minister Baek led the 18th operations committee meeting as his first official schedule and plans to continue running bi-weekly meetings.
Baek remarked, “As national AI competitiveness becomes more crucial, I will steadily continue the role of the AI control tower. I will expedite key tasks to leap into the AI G3, ensuring no gaps occur in the committee’s operation or major AI policy promotion, including the flawless execution of the ‘Korea AI Action Plan’.”
Contrary to the government’s position, the ICT industry anticipates an “inevitable temporary closure” due to the chain departure of two leaders central to AI policy establishment. Ha Jung-woo has also stepped down to run in a by-election, with no successor appointed yet.
Especially since both leaders assumed their roles less than a year ago, industry reactions are bewildered. Ha served approximately 10 months from June last year to April this year, and Im served roughly 8 months from September last year to May this year.
An ICT industry official commented, “At a time when tangible AI achievements are scarce, the disappearance of the control tower is absurd. Emphasizing AI as a priority adds to the bewilderment.”
Concerns also arise about the limitations of “stopgap” role-filling in managing detailed policies. Given the structure supporting AI policy establishment, led by the Presidential Office’s AI Chief and including the Ministry of Science and ICT and the committee as a “triangular formation,” specialized roles for each are vital.
Despite the massive budget for becoming an AI top three nation, concerns grow that progress may slow. This year’s government AI budget is 9.9 trillion KRW, nearly tripled from the previous year, marking a record high. Efficient budget execution and coordination are crucial, but leadership vacancies risk missing a “golden opportunity” for policy making.
Meanwhile, at the operations committee meeting chaired by Vice Prime Minister Baek, topics such as the ▷review of the Korea AI Action Plan Implementation ▷planning support results for new R&D projects next year and a non-R&D support promotion plan (draft) ▷establishment status and future plans (draft) for a tentative AI legislative framework, were discussed.