AI-Powered Smart Agriculture Adoption Rate to Reach 35%... 'Tech Alliance' Launched by Big Three Shipbuilders

Second Implementation Plan for Super-Innovative Economy Projects Announced

The government has unveiled the second implementation plan for the "15 Leading Projects for a Super-Innovative Economy," which aims to raise the adoption rate of artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart agriculture from just 16% in 2024 to 35% by 2030 and to designate a K-Beauty cluster. This detailed strategy covers five major projects: smart agriculture, ultra-high-resolution optical satellites for fisheries, AI bio, and K-Beauty. In addition, the government will fully launch the K-Shipbuilding Tech Alliance next year to accelerate the AI transformation of the shipbuilding industry.

On the 13th, customers, mostly foreigners, were selecting cosmetics at Olive Young Myeongdong branch. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced these measures on the 20th during a Growth Strategy Task Force and Economic Ministers' Meeting, presenting the "Results and Action Plan of the AI Relay On-Site Roundtable." The ministry detailed specific implementation plans for five projects: smart agriculture, smart fisheries, ultra-high-resolution satellites, an open AI bio ecosystem, and an integrated K-Beauty cluster. This is the second such plan, following the first implementation plan in September, which focused on power semiconductors, LNG cargo holds, graphene, special carbon steel, and K-Food. The plan further elaborates on the super-innovative economy projects announced in August as part of the new government’s economic growth strategy, including the contents reflected in the government budget proposal.

AI-Based Smart Agriculture: Adoption Rate to Reach 35% by 2030

To address the climate crisis and food security, the government will support the spread of smart agriculture models utilizing AI solutions. This includes attracting private investment, designating smart agriculture innovation leading zones, and establishing AI-based optimized farming models. The government plans to increase the adoption rate of smart agriculture from 16% in 2024 to 35% by 2030. The 2026 budget proposal includes a 70.5 billion won investment in the national agricultural AX platform, 7 billion won for AX-based intelligent technology development, 900 million won for sharing and trading smart agriculture data and solutions, and a comprehensive smart farm fund of 150 billion won, which is a 50 billion won increase from the previous year.

The adoption rate of smart fisheries will be raised from 2.7% in 2025 to 10% by 2030. The government will support the integration of Korea’s world-class aquaculture seed production technology with ICT. One smart fisheries innovation leading zone will be designated, with comprehensive support provided throughout the entire cycle, including the creation of a testbed, establishment of a big data platform, and training of specialized personnel.

AI Bio Open Ecosystem: Halving New Drug Development Time

To strengthen national security and climate response capabilities, the government will promote the development of core ultra-high-resolution optical technologies. Through inter-ministerial collaboration, the government will produce monitoring and forecasting information tailored to the Korean Peninsula’s climate and environment and build an AI-based climate prediction model. The 2026 budget includes 6.2 billion won for developing core technologies for ultra-high-resolution optical satellites, 7.3 billion won for developing a national climate prediction system, 3 billion won for nurturing talent in space technology innovation, and 100 billion won for a New Space Fund.

By combining Korea’s world-class domestic medical data and bio research and development (R&D) capabilities, the government will create an AI-centered open bio ecosystem. This includes building autonomous laboratories where AI designs and conducts experiments, developing AI bio models, and providing comprehensive support for R&D, infrastructure, and data. The government aims to reduce both the time (currently 10 to 15 years) and cost (1 trillion to 3 trillion won) required for new drug development by more than half, and to discover at least four new drug candidates by 2030.

The government will establish an integrated K-Beauty cluster to promote sustainable growth and high added value in the K-Beauty industry. To ensure that experiences and promotions targeting foreign tourists lead to purchases, the government will build a beauty industry hub that integrates experience, culture, tourism, and industry, diversifying export strategies. In early 2026, one key location will be selected, and efforts will be made to strengthen the link between experiences and purchases for foreign tourists. The goal is to raise Korea’s current global ranking in cosmetics exports-currently third after France and the United States-to second place.

K-Shipbuilding Tech Alliance Launch: Supporting AI Collaboration Among the Big Three Shipbuilders

Additionally, the government announced the "Results and Action Plan of the AI Relay On-Site Roundtable," stating that the K-Shipbuilding Tech Alliance will be fully launched next year to accelerate AI transformation in the shipbuilding industry. Starting next year, the three major shipbuilders will participate in a cooperative system for AI-based autonomous ship technology, unmanned shipyard technology R&D, and the training of specialized personnel. In the AI robotics sector, a 570 billion won fund will be created by the end of this year to foster AI and deep-tech unicorn companies such as AI robots. Furthermore, new projects will be launched by next year to expand demonstrations in industrial and public sectors, and amendments to the Personal Information Protection Act will be pursued to enable the use of original data for AI robot technology development. In the AI automotive sector, plans to create demand for autonomous vehicles through city-level demonstrations will be announced by the end of the year.

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