South Korea has selected consortia led by SK Telecom, Kakao and KT to build and operate a national artificial intelligence service intended to give the public free access to locally developed AI tools.
The three operators were chosen from six applicants for the government-backed “AI for All” program, according to Reuters, citing Yonhap News Agency. The selection places three of South Korea’s largest telecommunications and internet companies at the center of a public-service initiative that combines domestic AI models, state-provided computing capacity and consumer-facing distribution.
Government backs broad public access
South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT launched the AI for All competition in July. It said the program would support a general-purpose chatbot and a public AI agent that could help users find government assistance and complete administrative procedures.
Under the original program terms, selected providers must use South Korean sovereign foundation models for at least half of their services. At least 30 percent must involve domestic models developed by companies other than the operator itself. The ministry said foreign models may be used only where minimally necessary and that the government would not subsidize that portion.
The government plans to provide the selected companies with 512 Nvidia B200 graphics processing units in 2026 to support early development and launch. From 2027, it intends to cover costs associated with providing the public service through the national budget, while requiring participating companies to develop revenue models that can support service quality over time.
The ministry initially targeted a beta rollout around the end of September and a full launch within 2026. SK Telecom’s consortium now says its own beta is planned for October, followed by a formal launch before year-end. The exact rollout dates for the Kakao- and KT-led services were not detailed in the source materials reviewed.
SK Telecom outlines an action-oriented assistant
In its operator announcement, SK Telecom said its service would use its A.X K2 foundation model alongside other South Korean AI models. The company plans to make the assistant available through an app as well as phone calls and text messages, an approach aimed at older people and users who may be less comfortable with app-based services.
The proposed system is intended to go beyond answering questions by helping users complete tasks. SK Telecom said it plans to connect the assistant with Government24 and PASS so users can request 83 types of official certificates. Other proposed functions include explaining health records, suggesting nearby medical services, helping users track job openings and deadlines, and guiding small businesses through tax information and government support programs.
Because the assistant could initiate calls, reservations and other actions, SK Telecom said its design would include user confirmation and approval, alongside measures to minimize the personal data used. These features remain development plans rather than demonstrated capabilities, and their final scope will depend on technical integration, privacy controls and government approval.
SK Telecom said 20 organizations are participating directly in its consortium across financial services, mobility, healthcare, education and care services. It has signed memoranda of understanding with 11 additional organizations, bringing the broader group to 31 companies and institutions.
Three approaches to a national AI service
The selection gives South Korea three competing channels for a population-scale AI rollout. SK Telecom can draw on its mobile network and voice technology, Kakao can reach users through its widely used messaging ecosystem, and KT can distribute services across its telecommunications and digital platforms.
However, the government has not publicly disclosed the evaluation scores or rankings of the six applicants. Detailed official plans from the Kakao and KT consortia were also not available in the primary materials reviewed for this article. Their model mix, interface, data-handling rules and launch schedule will be important points to confirm as the program moves toward beta testing.
The initiative represents a major test of whether government-supported domestic AI can be delivered as a broadly accessible public utility. It also raises practical questions around user eligibility, data governance, service limits and the reliability of AI systems used to navigate health, benefits and administrative processes. Those issues are likely to shape public adoption as each operator moves from proposal to live service.