South Korea intends to launch a free AI chatbot powered by domestic technology by the end of 2026, according to government sources [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
About half of South Korea's 51 million population used generative AI applications as of February 2026, with nearly 23 million accessing ChatGPT, developed by U.S.-based OpenAI [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The government seeks to cut dependence on foreign AI platforms and promote "AI sovereignty" by developing local AI models. This includes a general-purpose chatbot and a more advanced AI agent capable of complex tasks [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Under the "AI for All" initiative, the free chatbot service aims to bridge the digital divide and attract users from paid foreign services. Senior presidential secretary Kim Yong-beom said providing free domestic AI platforms encourages user adoption, allowing demand and data to grow and strengthening the local AI market. He added the public AI agent could help users find and apply for relevant government services [1].
Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon stressed the need to offer better services to persuade users to switch from paid foreign AI platforms. He said, "We want Korea to move quickly into the era of AI agents and compete in that field" [1].
South Korea’s AI Basic Act took effect on July 21, 2026. It established a legal framework for AI governance, including labeling generative AI content and regulating 10 sensitive fields [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Starting in 2027, the government plans to expand the system to personalized AI agents offering assistance with asset management, learning support, and retirement planning [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon first highlighted the urgency to improve domestic AI service quality on July 20, 2026, followed by the AI Basic Act coming into force a day later [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The official target for the chatbot and AI agent launch is December 31, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
