[3rd Supplementary Budget] Building and Releasing AI Training Data... Ministry of Science and ICT "Digital-Based Economic Innovation" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The Ministry of Science and ICT will expand the construction of artificial intelligence (AI) training data, which has a significant job creation effect, and open it to startups and others. A representative example is enabling machine learning based on existing MRI data for Alzheimer's diagnosis. Projects that the public can experience, such as new infectious disease response systems and the expansion of public Wi-Fi, as well as 5G and AI convergence projects, will also be in full swing.

The goal is to accelerate economic innovation and create jobs through this 'Digital New Deal.' The Ministry of Science and ICT clearly stated its position to sufficiently reflect companies' concerns regarding the criticism from inside and outside the industry that the revision of the enforcement decree of the Data 3 Act, scheduled to be implemented in August, is excessively strict and is obstructing the government-led Digital New Deal.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 3rd, the third supplementary budget bill to respond to the economic crisis after the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) includes a total of 26 projects worth 892.5 billion KRW under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and ICT, focusing on the Digital New Deal, K-quarantine, and private sector research and development (R&D) support.

Vice Minister Jang Seok-young explained at a briefing held at the Government Seoul Office in the morning, "Due to the impact of COVID-19, the fourth industrial revolution, including non-face-to-face and digital transformation, is accelerating across our economy," adding, "The Korean New Deal is intended to respond to non-face-to-face and digitalization and accelerate digital-based economic innovation."

◆ Ministry of Science and ICT "Playing a core role in the Digital New Deal... accounting for 30%" = More than 90% of the supplementary budget is allocated to the Digital New Deal, a major pillar of the Korean New Deal. A total of 832.4 billion KRW has been allocated for ▲ strengthening the D.N.A (Data, Network, Artificial Intelligence) ecosystem (667.1 billion KRW), ▲ building digital inclusion and safety nets (140.7 billion KRW), ▲ fostering non-face-to-face services and industries (17.5 billion KRW), and ▲ digitalization of SOC (7.1 billion KRW). Most of these projects open the door to data utilization and lead the convergence with AI and 5G in line with the entry into the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. The scale of the Digital New Deal projects under the Ministry of Science and ICT accounts for about 30% of the total 2.7 trillion KRW.

To this end, the Ministry of Science and ICT is accelerating the use of data, which is the foundation of the digital economy. The budget allocated for AI training data, essential for AI model development, is 292.5 billion KRW, the largest among single project units. Vice Minister Jang called it a representative project for building data capable of machine learning and a core project for leapfrogging to a leading country. According to a survey conducted on related associations and companies, the Ministry confirmed demand for 720 types of AI training data and selected 150 types as priority construction targets after reviewing usability, suitability, and urgency. For example, machine learning using existing diagnostic MRI was enabled for Alzheimer's diagnosis.

In addition, 50 more centers linked with big data platforms will be constructed (40.5 billion KRW), and support for AI data processing will be expanded by about 500 cases. The plan is to create new value in line with the Data 3 Act, which will be implemented in August, and the expansion of the AI market. Regarding concerns from the industry about the revision of the enforcement decree, a subordinate law of the Data 3 Act, Vice Minister Jang said, "We are listening to many opinions from companies," and added, "We are actively consulting with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on issues such as the scope of use of pseudonymized information and reasonable purpose scope, reflecting companies' concerns."

◆ Accelerating 5G expansion and AI convergence... expanding public Wi-Fi = The supplementary budget bill also includes contents where the public sector takes the lead in spreading 5G, such as pilot introduction of 5G work networks centered on the public sector. Vice Minister Jang said regarding the possibility of applying the 28 GHz ultra-high frequency band to the public network, "We are not ready immediately, but the possibility is open," and added, "If the project is expanded continuously next year and the year after, and the surrounding conditions are met, 28 GHz can be sufficiently utilized."

The Ministry of Science and ICT will also invest 21.1 billion KRW in AI convergence projects (AI+X) mainly in the medical and defense fields, such as medical imaging diagnosis and reading systems and new infectious disease response systems. The AI voucher (56 billion KRW) program, which allows small and medium-sized enterprises to easily purchase and apply AI solutions, will be expanded from 14 companies to 214 companies. Additionally, 20 billion KRW will be poured into VR and AR content production, which can be called the "flower of 5G."

From the perspective of digital inclusion, the Ministry will build ultra-high-speed internet networks in 650 rural fishing villages and remote areas (3.06 billion KRW), and install high-performance Wi-Fi in 10,000 public places such as health centers and bus stops (32 billion KRW). Also, 19,000 old Wi-Fi units will be replaced with an investment of 19.8 billion KRW. Furthermore, a project to operate community centers as 'Digital Education Centers' to enable anyone to easily receive digital education will be promoted with a budget of 60 billion KRW. Vice Minister Jang emphasized, "The most important thing through the third supplementary budget and digital transformation is to ensure that the public is not excluded from the benefits of digital innovation."

In addition, considering the increasing cybersecurity concerns related to remote education and telecommuting expanded after the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry will establish a system (3.3 billion KRW) to remotely inspect users upon request. Comprehensive consulting will be provided to small and medium-sized enterprises, which are relatively vulnerable to security, and related investments will be supported for 500 companies this year alone.

Moreover, the Ministry will develop new core ICT technologies necessary for implementing non-face-to-face business (17.51 billion KRW) and build a data dam (7.056 billion KRW) that integrates unmanned mobile robots, Internet of Things (IoT), and AI into aging underground shared ducts to enable real-time safety management.

Meanwhile, apart from the Digital New Deal, supplementary budgets of 39.7 billion KRW and 20.4 billion KRW have been allocated for K-quarantine in preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 and private R&D support, respectively. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to invest 17.5 billion KRW to support the rapid clinical linkage of candidate substances held by domestic companies and research institutes for COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccine development. In addition, it will develop package technologies such as infection prevention devices like smart protective suits and emergency response services like mobile infectious disease hospitals to establish a Korean-style quarantine package.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.