South Korea rolls out AI‑focused SME funding program up to 300 billion won

South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, together with Woori Bank, has opened applications for the second round of the “Rising Leaders 300” programme. The initiative will provide up to 300 billion won in loans per qualifying mid‑size company and preferential interest rates, with a total allocation of about 2 trillion won for 225 firms in the first half‑year. Applications run from July 27 to August 14, and the programme now emphasizes AI conversion (AX) rather than earlier digital‑transformation categories.

Separately, Kyung Hee University was selected for two government‑backed AI talent‑development projects: a five‑year AI boot‑camp funded by the Ministry of Education and KIAT worth 7.125 billion won, and the Seoul RISE initiative. The university will build a generative‑AI platform, a data‑driven decision system, and a K‑DX big‑data analysis system to support AI education, industry collaboration, and administrative innovation.