Korea-U.S. governments sign new agreement after 10 years: "Comprehensive cooperation in science and technology including AI and quantum"

Accelerating development based on the AI policy framework

First meeting to be held next year in Washington, U.S.

The governments of Korea and the United States have signed a new agreement after 10 years to cooperate comprehensively in the field of science and technology. The two countries agreed to strengthen a comprehensive cooperation framework for future core technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 29th that it will sign the "Korea-U.S. Technology Prosperity MOU (TPD)." The signing ceremony, which will be attended by Ha Jung-woo, Senior Presidential Secretary for AI Future Planning, and Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, will be held at 3:15 p.m. in Gyeongju.

This MOU is one of the outcomes of the Korea-U.S. summit held during APEC week. Starting with the 1992 science and technology agreement, followed by the nuclear agreement (2015) and the space agreement (2016), the two countries are concluding a new agreement for the first time in 10 years.

Through this agreement, the two countries will lay the groundwork to promote AI technology development. For example, they plan to smoothly coordinate differing AI policies between the two countries through an AI policy framework. They will also create a regional joint AI ecosystem in Asia and other countries to support technology export cooperation across all areas of AI, and develop datasets needed for AI use.

In addition, the two countries will cooperate on implementation measures in key technology areas such as next-generation communications, pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chains, quantum innovation, and space exploration. They will actively support basic research and personnel exchanges to strengthen the foundation for bilateral science and technology cooperation.

Specific implementation measures will be decided through discussions between Senior Presidential Secretary Ha Jung-woo and Director Michael Kratsios after the signing ceremony. Next year in Washington, D.C., they plan to hold the Korea-U.S. Joint Committee on Science and Technology and use it as a practical implementation mechanism for carrying out the MOU.

Senior Presidential Secretary Ha Jung-woo said, "We will use Korea-U.S. R&D in AI and cooperation on AI full-stack exports as a stepping stone for Korea to leap forward as one of the top three AI powers."

Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said, "Following the MOU on AI ecosystem cooperation signed earlier with U.S. BlackRock and OpenAI, we will further revitalize science and technology exchanges and investment between Korea and the U.S."

Reporter Lee Young-ae 0ae@hankyung.com