'National-Team AI' DOKPAMO to Evolve into World-Class Frontier AI

[Financial News] The government has decided to evolve and develop the country's flagship Sovereign AI Foundation Model Project (DOKPAMO) into a program for developing world-class Frontier AI models.
Budgets for securing next-generation AI technologies, including artificial general intelligence (AGI), as well as the teams and organizations needed to develop them, will be integrated into and expanded under the top-tier AI model development program. The DOKPAMO project will also be revamped so that both initiatives can be pursued in parallel.
Ryu Jemyoung, Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT, held a press briefing on the 2nd on the topic of "The Sovereign AI Foundation Model Project and the Direction of Frontier AI." He emphasized, "The policy goal of securing a sovereign AI foundation model will not change and will continue to be pursued and strengthened. The DOKPAMO project will proceed with its third evaluation and fourth round of support, scheduled for February next year, as planned, and we will link the project to the policy of securing Frontier AI."


Vice Minister Ryu emphasized, "The program to select and support the top two teams through the third evaluation will evolve and develop."
The Ministry of Science and ICT explained that, rather than setting aside a separate budget for the DOKPAMO project, the government could provide government-purchased GPUs in kind and support the initiative by making data from Frontier AI companies available to a certain extent.
The government is also considering additional support to expand the use of DOKPAMO in industry and research. Its plan is to use additional GPUs secured by the government and other resources to help DOKPAMO models be used more widely in industrial and research settings, while expanding the domestic AI transformation (AX) ecosystem.
Vice Minister Ryu stressed, "A policy is needed to secure technological competitiveness through the DOKPAMO project while rapidly deploying sovereign foundation models in industrial settings and expanding their use widely."

The Frontier AI development project will pursue the acquisition of top-tier AI technology that can be used for national security and to address humanity's major challenges.
The government's budget proposal has been finalized to allocate 4.7 trillion won next year through an investment-based funding model, and it is awaiting review by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea at year-end.
Although Ryu said, "It would be inappropriate to discuss the project plan before the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea finalizes the budget," he added, "We will prepare an internal plan so that the project details, including its specific structure, participants, selection process and investment mechanism, can be disclosed shortly after the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea finalizes the budget."
The government does not plan to limit participation in the Frontier AI development project to companies that are currently involved in DOKPAMO. Ryu said, "Companies that remain in DOKPAMO, as well as those that are not currently participating, should be given a fair opportunity to carry out Frontier AI models. We will design the project around a principle that guarantees participation opportunities not only for large companies but also for startups with technological capabilities."
The DOKPAMO and Frontier AI projects will be pursued separately, but they will not be completely disconnected. The government plans to closely link the technologies, talent and AI ecosystem achievements accumulated through DOKPAMO to the development of Frontier AI.
The government explained that there had been confusion over the relationship between DOKPAMO and Frontier AI during the explanation of next year's budget proposal.
Under the government's national AI strategy, DOKPAMO will continue model development and expand its use in industrial and research settings according to the existing plan. Separately, the Frontier AI project will be added to advance the initiative toward securing globally top-tier AI technology.
[email protected] Yoon Hong-jip Reporter