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South Korea triples AI spending in 2026 budget plan
South Korea aims to become a top three AI power with a 10.1 trillion won budget focusing on infrastructure, talent, and key industries, tripling this year's AI spending.
- During the 2026 budget presentation, Lee proposed allocating 10.1 trillion won to make South Korea a top-three AI power, as announced in his parliamentary speech.
- Framing the move as a national imperative, President Lee Jae Myung said South Korea faces a critical moment for national survival amid global trade changes and must build a `highway for the AI era` like Park Chung-hee and Kim Dae-jung did.
- Next year's AI budget allocates 7.5 trillion won for talent development and infrastructure, and the plan targets semiconductors, automobiles, shipbuilding, and robotics, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix leading memory chip manufacturing.
- Seeking rapid approval, Lee asked parliament to pass the proposal, likely supported by his ruling party majority, and proposed an 8.2% defense spending increase next year.
- However, access and delivery remain uncertain as U.S. restrictions on Blackwell AI chips and Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, said shipments depend on AI data centers and power networks, calling the goal `ambitious` after Friday.
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Jae-myung planned to allocate the equivalent to EUR 6.1 billion for "a major transformation with a view to boosting South Korea for a group of the three main global powers in IA".
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources61
Leaning Left12Leaning Right8Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Left
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left
40% Left
L 40%
C 33%
R 27%
Factuality
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