Breaking: Korea Sets Date for Additional Elite Team Contest in Independent AI Foundation Model Drive
Seoul, January 23, 2026 — The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the launch date for an extra elite-team competition within the Independent AI Foundation Model project, a bid to accelerate homegrown artificial intelligence leadership.The timing comes after a preliminary evaluation narrowed the field and sparked questions about industry participation.
In a follow-up to the first round of assessments, the ministry confirmed that the competition will proceed until February 12, with expert panels determining the final lineup. the initiative aims to identify new elite teams that will help strengthen Korea’s AI ecosystem and provide substantial compute resources to those selected.
KT, a major domestic tech group, disclosed on January 23 that it will not join the re-challenge. earlier,Naver Cloud,NC AI,and kakao signaled they would not attempt another run after their initial elimination. The government had previously highlighted KT as a potential AI powerhouse partner in the project’s broader strategy.
The initial evaluation, conducted in mid-January, invited five contenders: LG AI Research Institute, SK Telecom, Upstage, Naver Cloud, and NC AI. Three teams advanced, while the others faced concerns over independence within the project framework.
As the government extends the contest window, it also reaffirmed that elite teams arriving through the second round will receive GPU resources—specifically 768 B200 units—and be granted the “K-AI Company” designation, reinforcing a domestic push to enhance AI foundation models.
Analysts say the ongoing process underscores a broader strategy to close gaps with global AI leaders by channeling state-backed resources into a compact set of elite, independent teams capable of advancing national capabilities in AI foundation models.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| First evaluation participants | LG AI research Institute, SK telecom, Upstage, Naver Cloud, NC AI |
| Advancers from first round | LG AI Research Institute, SK Telecom, Upstage |
| Participants not re-entering | KT, Naver Cloud, NC AI, Kakao |
| Contest deadline for new elite teams | February 12 |
| Resources offered to new elites | GPU resources of 768 B200 units |
| Designation for selected teams | K-AI Company |
What this means for Korea’s AI landscape is evolving as the government seeks to balance broad industry participation with targeted investment in a core set of capable players. The move could influence how private firms align their AI advancement roadmaps with national priorities and how foreign partners view Korea’s commitment to homegrown AI expertise.
Readers can follow official updates from the Ministry of Science and ICT for the latest on the selection process and resource allocations. For background reading, see official ministry coverage and policy discussions on AI foundation models.
Two questions for readers: Which players should be watching as potential finalists in the second round, and how might this competition shape Korea’s posture in global AI collaboration and licensing in the coming year?
External resources: Ministry of Science and ICT (English)
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