The South Korean government is promoting 'AI for All,' a project to provide domestically produced AI services to the general public free of charge.
The South Korean government is promoting the 'AI for All' project, which aims to provide free public AI services to all citizens. A consortium led by mobile phone operator
SKT, KT, Kakao consortiums selected for free AI service for public - The Korea Times
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/tech-science/20260828/skt-kt-kakao-consortiums-selected-for-free-ai-service-for-public
SK Telecom, Kakao and KT chosen for South Korea's public AI service project
https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/business/sk-telecom-kakao-and-kt-chosen-for-public-ai-service-project/12849094
South Korea's 'AI for All' Push Gives Free Chatbot Access to Every Citizen - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/south-koreas-ai-for-all-push-gives-free-access-to-every-citizen-451f6b2c
South Korea has one of the highest numbers of AI chatbot users in the world, and a survey conducted in early 2026 indicated that about a quarter of South Koreans were paying for AI-generated content. The South Korean government has allocated 10 trillion won (approximately 1.17 trillion yen) for AI-related budgets in 2026, more than three times the amount allocated the previous year, and is working to make South Korea a leading AI nation.
Amidst this situation, 'AI for All' is being promoted as a project to give more Koreans access to domestically produced AI chatbots. The goal is to avoid excessive reliance on AI models from the United States and China and to establish AI sovereignty by providing advanced AI services to the public free of charge.
The AI services offered through 'AI for All' will integrate with government systems, enabling users to access services such as doctor appointments, apartment search assistance, and tax consultations. Small and medium-sized businesses will be able to calculate their taxes and verify eligibility for government support programs, while parents will receive suggestions for educational content for their children.
On August 28, 2026, the South Korean government selected three consortia, each led by SK Telecom, KT, and Kakao, to operate 'AI for All.' The selected companies will receive a total of 512
SK Telecom's consortium plans to develop an action-oriented AI that can handle everything from planning to execution based on a single request. This AI service will be available not only for apps and websites, but also for phone calls and SMS, improving accessibility for people who have difficulty using digital services.
KT's consortium will provide services in partnership with partner platforms such as search engines and e-commerce sites, as well as with telecommunications and IPTV channels. The consortium's AI services are said to be able to perform information retrieval, comparison, and public or commercial tasks in a single conversation.
Kakao's consortium plans to combine general-purpose AI chatbots and AI agents, using KakaoTalk, a messaging platform widely used in South Korea, as the primary entry point. They also plan to release a simplified version of their AI phone service by the end of the year, and distribute specialized AI agents through a marketplace.
The government signed agreements with three consortia in September and plans to officially launch the 'AI for All' service in 2026 after a beta service period. Furthermore, each consortium will receive government support in 2027 to cover part of the costs necessary for providing the service nationwide.
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