“Can I build a house on this land?” ... AI conducts a preliminary permit assessment

[Financial News] An AI service that checks relevant laws and ordinances to determine in advance whether permits and approvals are possible has made its debut.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on the 4th, the service is one of the “Top 10 AI Projects for People’s Livelihoods,” a public-sector AI transformation (AX) initiative being pursued by the government to help people experience the benefits of AI firsthand. It was the only MOLIT project selected in a call for proposals by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT). Development began in April this year, with completion targeted for December 2027. The work is being carried out by a consortium led by BI Matrix, an AI and data analytics solutions company, together with geospatial information companies WAVUS and ICT Way.
The service makes a preliminary assessment of whether permits and approvals are possible, based on laws regulating land development and local government ordinances. Development has been completed on an orchestrator that integrates and coordinates the functions of multiple AI agents, as well as on connections between the agents, and an environment for testing and pilot operation has been established. A key feature is the use of AI technology that identifies the intent behind questions entered in everyday language, so people can use the service without knowing the relevant laws.
About 130 people from relevant organizations, local governments, and industry, academia and research attended the briefing to share updates on development and its results, local government testing plans, and future uses. A service developed for testing in the five locations set to begin pilot operations next January—Gyeyang District, Incheon; Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province; Asan, South Chungcheong Province; and Gyeongsan and Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province—was also unveiled in advance. The two ministries will check the system in these areas and establish the reliability of its assessments before expanding the pilot program to 18 local governments starting in June 2027. They plan to broaden the scope of permit assessments and upgrade the system, then launch mobile services and an administrative work service for public officials in December of the same year. Visitors can try the service and offer suggestions for improvement at the event’s promotional booth through the 6th.
The Top 10 AI Projects for People’s Livelihoods is a program for which MSIT opened a call for proposals in February this year. It supports development for up to two years by AI and ICT company consortia in fields where people can immediately feel the benefits, including agriculture, small businesses, national heritage and aviation. Separately from this service, MOLIT also operates a “Preliminary Factory Permit Assessment Service” that checks regulations in advance for potential factory sites. On the 3rd, it added location recommendations by industry and a smartphone service, and showcased them at this K-Geo Festa.
Lee Dae-seop, MOLIT’s Land Information Policy Officer, said, “This briefing was a meaningful occasion to present the results of the service’s testing for the first time to local government officials on the front lines of public service.” He added, “Through the pilot operation, we will improve the service’s quality and stability and prepare for its official launch without a hitch. We will work to ensure the smooth implementation of AI services that people can experience in their daily lives, and actively support efforts to ensure that the benefits of AI innovation lead to improvements in people’s quality of life.”
Hong Seong-wan, MSIT’s Information and Communications Policy Officer, said, “The ‘AI-Based Integrated Permit Preliminary Assessment Service’ being unveiled this time is expected to give people an opportunity to experience the benefits of AI firsthand in their daily lives by helping them easily understand and prepare for complex permit requirements and procedures, even without specialized knowledge.” He added, “MSIT will continue to work closely with relevant ministries to accelerate AI transformation in the public sector and provide AI services that everyone can access easily and conveniently.”

[email protected] Jeong Gyeong-su Reporter