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South Korea Launches Free ‘AI for All’ to Tackle AI Divide and Foreign Dependence

According to the ministry, citing Wiseapp Retail data from April 2026, ChatGPT had an estimated 23.45 million monthly active users (MAU) in South Korea, followed by Gemini with 8.45 million and Claude with 2.41 million.
South Korean flag alongside an illustration of an AI chatbot assisting a user on a smartphone.
August 29, 2026 04:11 PM IST | Written by Supriya Singh | Edited by Pratima O Pareek

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) has launched the “AI for All Project,” under which it plans to offer citizens free AI services powered primarily by domestically developed models. The project includes a free, general-purpose AI chatbot scheduled to launch by the end of the year without usage limits.

The ministry has opened a one-month call for proposals starting July 13 and plans to select two to three private companies to develop and operate the services.

The companies will be required to use South Korean AI models for at least 50% of their services, with at least 30% coming from domestic models developed by companies other than themselves.

Foreign AI models may be used only where minimally necessary, and government support will not be provided for the portion involving foreign models.

In addition to the chatbot, the project will introduce a public AI agent that can proactively inform citizens about public services and handle applications on their behalf. Each selected company will also independently develop and integrate its own specialized services.

The ministry said the initiative is aimed at reducing the country’s AI divide. About two-thirds of Koreans have used AI services, while around 23 million people have used generative AI, according to the 2025 Survey on Internet Use.

As of April 2026, ChatGPT had an estimated 23.45 million monthly active users in South Korea, followed by Gemini with 8.45 million and Claude with 2.41 million, according to the ministry, citing Wiseapp Retail data. About one-third of the population still cannot use AI, while most generative AI users rely on the free versions of AI platforms developed by foreign companies.

MSIT expressed concern that changes by foreign AI providers, including subscription fee hikes or service discontinuations, could limit citizens’ access to AI.

MSIT plans to select service providers in August, launch a beta service at the end of September, and roll out the full AI for All services later this year.

The ministry said it plans to further develop the AI agents after 2027 as part of its long-term “one AI agent per citizen” goal.

Also Read: NVIDIA, SK Group Ink $500B-Plus AI Deal Under South Korea’s $950B AI Bet

Authors

  • AI FrontPage Reporter Supriya Singh

    Supriya Singh is a Reporter at AI FrontPage covering the AI & Education and AI & Jobs beats. She brings six years of print and digital experience, including three years at The Asian Age, where she reported on higher education, Delhi government, and crime. She is based in Delhi-NCR.

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  • Pratima Pareek, Editor and Co-founder of AI FrontPage

    Pratima O Pareek is an Editor and Co-Founder of AI FrontPage. A gold medalist in Mass Communication and Journalism, she's worked across national and international newsrooms, bringing sharp editorial instincts and a commitment to clarity. She believes in cutting through the noise to deliver stories that actually matter.
    Off the clock, she watches offbeat cinema, follows tennis, and explores new places like a traveler, not a tourist.

    LinkedIn

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