Seoul Digital Foundation Rebrands as 'Seoul AI Foundation'... Takes on Control Tower Role

Shifting Roles in the Age of Everyday AI
Pursuing Five Grand Strategies for the Future

The Seoul Digital Foundation is changing its name to the 'Seoul AI Foundation' and making a fresh start. The Seoul AI Foundation will serve as the control tower for Seoul's AI policy.

On May 21 at 2:00 p.m., the Seoul AI Foundation held its launch ceremony at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressing its commitment to making Seoul a global leader in AI by driving administrative innovation and nurturing talent in the AI sector.

Established in 2016, the foundation has contributed to the creation of a smart city, strengthening digital capabilities, and innovating data-driven administration. As the era of AI in everyday life arrives, the foundation has completely revamped its strategy to take on a central role as the main coordinating institution.

As a comprehensive AI platform organization, the foundation will pursue five 'grand strategies.' First, it will promote 'Urban AI' by building a global network with leading universities, companies, city governments, and citizens to develop Seoul-style urban solutions. It will also advance 'Physical AI' by expanding partnerships with major research institutions such as the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). Based on its achievements in research, consulting, and education, the foundation will expand 'Public AI' to drive citizen-centered public service innovation. In addition, it aims to implement Ethical AI through education and campaigns, and to explore the potential for AI application across industries (AI-X).

The launch ceremony was attended by Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon, as well as representatives from AI companies, local governments nationwide, and related organizations.

Following the launch ceremony, an AI Administrative Innovation Forum was held under the theme 'Korea Moving Forward with AI.' Kim Yucheol, Head of LG AI Research, delivered a keynote presentation titled 'Agent AI: The Beginning of a New AI Ecosystem.' This was followed by presentations on AI in Seoul and other regions by Kim Sookhee, Director of Seoul's Digital Policy Division; Joo Sunghwan, Director of the Seoul AI Foundation; Kim Sungha, Head of the Gyeonggi Research Institute Center; and Kang Jaehyuk, Director of the Gwangju Artificial Intelligence Industry Convergence Project Group.

Kim Manki, Chairman of the Seoul AI Foundation, stated, "Today marks the day we take a bold step toward the future under the new name of the Seoul AI Foundation," adding, "We will take the lead in creating an AI innovation ecosystem built by citizens, businesses, and government together, and do our utmost to innovate Seoul's industry and administration through AI so that all citizens can benefit."

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