South Korea AI and defense integration

South Korea is expanding its integration of artificial intelligence across both civilian and military sectors. The government initially introduced a “K-AI package” designed to incorporate AI solutions, data centers, and power infrastructure into its official development assistance (ODA) for partner nations. In the defense sector, South Korea has moved toward building a national defense-AI ecosystem, referred to as “K-Palantir,” prioritizing the integration of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles for observation and targeting.

Building on these foundations, South Korean national strategy is shifting toward large-scale industrialization and advanced security infrastructure. For its 2027 national information security R&D, the government is planning an “AI Cyber Shield Dome” and “Physical AI convergence security.” These initiatives aim to develop AI agents capable of autonomous threat detection and response.

In the civilian sector, development is moving toward “agentic AI.” This includes national projects to create AI companions designed to detect emotional distress and provide proactive support, reflecting a broader trend of transitioning AI from simple tools to autonomous agents capable of complex task delegation.