What did Ha Jung-woo say about Korea’s AI strategy and export controls?

Ha Jung-woo said Korea must keep building competitive AI capabilities of its own because export controls on top-tier frontier models could return at any time. He warned that gaps in access to leading models could create gaps in national capability.

Why is Korea’s national AI foundation model project under review?

Ha said the project is drawing questions about whether it is being evaluated properly, how the selected models will be used, and whether they can compete with global frontier models. He called for a review of whether it still matches its original purpose and what should be done next.

What role did Ha Jung-woo say the government should play for the AI industry?

Ha said he wants to connect government policy capabilities with industry so the government can deliver tangible results. He said the government should make policy decisions quickly, coordinate issues among ministries and remove obstacles such as delays in approvals for AI data centers.

New AI policy chief warns of export control risks, vows push for homegrown AI

Listen

Summary

Ha Jung-woo, the new standing vice chairman of the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, said Monday that Korea must keep building its own AI capabilities in Seoul. He warned that export controls on top-tier frontier AI models could return at any time, citing a U.S. export control on Anthropic’s Mythos 5 model in June. He also said the national foundation model project should be reviewed to see whether it still serves its original purpose and can narrow the gap with frontier models. Ha said he would help connect government policy and industry and speed up decisions, including on AI data center approvals.

Key Facts

Ha Jung-woo is the standing vice chairman of the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, a minister-level post. He is also former head of Naver Cloud’s AI Innovation Center.
He cited a U.S. export control on Anthropic’s Mythos 5 model in June as an example of how advanced AI tools can become strategic assets.
Ha said the government’s national foundation model project is facing questions about evaluation, post-selection use, and whether the models can compete with global frontier models.
He said administrative approvals for building AI data centers are one obstacle the government needs to remove.
The council is headed by President Lee Jae Myung and is mandated to coordinate and decide strategic directions for government AI policies.

By Nam Hyun-woo

Published Aug 31, 2026 6:23 pm KST

Ha Jung-woo, standing vice chairman of the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, speaks during his inaugural press conference at the council in central Seoul, Monday. Newsis

Ha Jung-woo, the new standing vice chairman of the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), said Monday that Korea must continue efforts to develop competitive AI capabilities of its own to mitigate future risks such as potential export controls on top-tier artificial intelligence (AI) models.

During a press conference marking his appointment, Ha said export controls on top-tier frontier AI models could appear again at any time, citing a U.S. export control on Anthropic’s Mythos 5 model in June that spread fears that advanced AI tools have become strategic assets.

“Disparities in access to leading AI models could cause gaps in national capabilities,” he said. “Whether it is the government’s ongoing national foundation model project or other types of initiatives, Korea needs to maintain its own capabilities to make frontier AI models.”

Ha’s comments came as the national foundation model project, an initiative to foster domestic frontier-level AI models using locally developed technology, faces growing questions over whether the models are being evaluated properly, how they will be utilized after selection and whether they can compete with global frontier models.

“We need to take this opportunity to review whether the project is staying true to its original purpose, whether the national foundation model initiative remains viable and what steps we should take to narrow the gap with frontier models and join the leading group,” he said.

“I believe experts on the council can contribute by identifying shortcomings and improving the program. Whether it takes the form of a new frontier model project or something else, we need to move in a direction that addresses the issues that have been raised.”

Ha, former head of Naver Cloud’s AI Innovation Center, made headlines as the country’s first presidential AI secretary and for his failed candidacy for a parliamentary seat earlier this year.

Returning to his field of expertise after four months, he said he would work to connect the government’s policy capabilities with the industry to deliver tangible results.

“We will make necessary policy decisions swiftly, actively coordinate issues among government ministries and remove obstacles facing the industry,” Ha said, citing difficulties in administrative approvals for building AI data centers as one such obstacle.

NAIS is a presidential council mandated at coordinating and deciding strategic directions of government AI policies. It is headed by President Lee Jae Myung, and Ha is the standing vice chairman, which is a minister-level post.

Explore More