[Edaily Reporter Han Kwangbeom ] A consortium comprising SKTelecom(017670), Kakao(035720), and KTCorporation(030200) has been selected as the final implementing agency for the “AI for All” project, a public AI infrastructure initiative led by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The Ministry announced on the 28th that it had selected the consortium comprising these three telecommunications and platform companies—xml-ph-0001@deepl.internal, xml-ph-0002@deepl.internal, and xml-ph-0003@deepl.internal—as the project operator following a rigorous competitive process involving written and presentation evaluations.
The written evaluation assessed technical suitability—including the competitiveness of AI models and services, GPU utilization, and infrastructure operation plans—to determine eligibility, while the presentation evaluation, which included a video demonstration of a prototype, provided a comprehensive assessment of service convenience, user acquisition strategies, plans to ensure service quality and stability, and plans to contribute to the ecosystem. At the request of the participating companies, evaluation scores and rankings were not disclosed.
The three selected operators will receive a total of 512 NVIDIA B200 GPUs this year, and starting in 2027, the costs necessary to provide services to the entire population will continue to be supported through government funding.
◇Specialized Strategies and Public Engagement Plans by Each Consortium of Three Companies
The selected operators received high evaluations for proposing a wide range of public touchpoints, general-purpose AI chatbots, Agent AI agents, and services specialized for collaboration with startups, leveraging their respective strengths.
The SKTelecom consortium, promoting “AI that starts with a single question and completes everyday tasks on your behalf,” is developing an action-oriented AI service that handles everything from planning to execution with a single request.
Accessible via apps, the web, phone calls, and text messages, the service allows digitally vulnerable groups—such as senior citizens—to use it without any separate installation, while delivering high-quality service tailored to the context of domestic administration and local life. It features an agent function that connects users via phone to stores and government offices lacking official APIs, as well as specialized services closely tied to daily life, such as health and finance. The models used include A.X K2, Sola Open 2, Motif 3, and K-ExaOne 2.0.
The Kakao Consortium aims to provide “AI that completes everything from reservations and applications to payments within the national messenger app,” using the app as an entry point to offer a unified platform integrating general-purpose chatbots and AI agents.
LG Uplus will launch a Lite version of its general-purpose phone AI service within the year and, in conjunction with PlayMCP and the AI Agent Marketplace, will build an ecosystem where promising AI companies can directly develop, test, and distribute specialized agents. It will also provide specialized services tailored to different life stages, such as senior care and tax services, utilizing models such as Kanana, ExaOne, and K-ExaOne 2.0.
A Kakao official stated, “As the lead organizer of the consortium, Kakao will work closely with participating companies that possess proven expertise in their respective fields to do our utmost to build highly reliable services that allow every citizen to easily and safely experience and utilize AI in their daily lives.”
Based on the concept of “AI that brings public and lifestyle services together through a single conversation,” the KTCorporation consortium provides integrated support ranging from information search, comparison, and decision-making to the execution of public and specialized services.
AI entry points will be deployed on the Daum portal and app, partner channels such as Danawa, Musinsa, and Zigbang, as well as KTCorporation’s telecommunications channels and media platforms (such as IPTV), enabling users to access the service from anywhere in their daily lives. The service will also support specialized, everyday services such as education and real estate, utilizing models including Belief K Pro 2.5, Solar Pro 4, and Motif 3.
◇September Agreement Signing and Formation of a Working Group… Official Launch by Year-End
The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to sign agreements with three service providers in September and officially launch the “AI for All” service by the end of the year following a beta service period.
To this end, a working group will be formed immediately with the selected operators, while consultations with relevant government ministries will also be conducted to facilitate the integration of public data. Furthermore, to ensure that “AI for All” establishes itself as South Korea’s leading AI service, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the operators plan to jointly pursue initiatives to improve public accessibility, branding, and promotion.
