President Lee Jae-myung has called for the National Assembly to pass the 2026 budget, emphasizing the construction of an ‘AI Highway’ as a foundation for Korea’s future growth. The AI Highway refers to the efficient integration of computing devices, data centers, and networks essential for developing and utilizing AI services. This initiative is expected to have a transformative impact, similar to how the national expressways in the 1970s revolutionized logistics, manufacturing, and exports. The government has positioned the AI Highway as a core national agenda to drive industrial innovation.
Key components of the AI Highway include high-performance computing devices like NVIDIA GPUs and Google TPUs, which are crucial for AI development. Data centers, which operate thousands of these devices around the clock, require massive power, advanced security, and robust network infrastructure. While current 5G and wired networks support AI clusters, supercomputers, and cloud AI, the commercialization of 6G will enable even faster and larger-scale data transmission. The government aims to demonstrate 6G technology by 2026 and launch commercial services around 2030.
By 2028, the government plans to secure over 52,000 advanced GPUs and build the sixth national supercomputer and an AI computing center. The role of the National AI Strategy Committee will be strengthened in 2026 to coordinate public and private AI policies, while regulatory innovation will be pursued through the establishment of an AI regulatory sandbox and the enactment of the AI Basic Act. Starting February 2024, 10,000 government-secured GPUs will be distributed to industry, academia, and research sectors, enabling startups and university labs to conduct AI experiments at the same level as large corporations.
Once the AI Highway is complete, the diversity and accessibility of AI services are expected to increase significantly. Fiercer competition among companies may lower usage fees, and technologies like search, content recommendation, translation, and autonomous driving will become more seamless in daily life. With the introduction of 6G and regulatory reforms, entry barriers for the AI industry will be reduced, fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem. This will be crucial for Korea to secure a leading position in the global AI race.
The construction of Korea’s AI Highway represents a strategic investment that goes beyond infrastructure expansion, aiming to dramatically enhance the nation’s digital competitiveness and innovation capacity. The synergy between GPUs, data centers, and 6G networks will accelerate AI commercialization and digital transformation across industries. Government-led regulatory reforms and public-private cooperation will provide fair opportunities for startups, academia, and large enterprises, positioning Korea as a global AI hub.