Defense ministry to create deputy minister post overseeing AI policy

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, center, briefs reporters on results of the Security Consultative Meeting outlining the agreement made with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Nov. 14. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense

The defense ministry is pushing to establish a new deputy minister post in charge of artificial intelligence (AI) policy to bolster the use of AI in the military, according to a report submitted to an opposition lawmaker Tuesday.

Under the reform plan, the ministry will create the new position to oversee all AI-related functions, including logistics, information and military assets, according to Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the main opposition People Power Party.

It is part of the ministry's plan to execute an organizational overhaul in January.

The move reflects the growing importance of AI technology in future warfare as the military is seeking to embrace more high-tech systems to sharpen its capabilities.

If realized, the deputy minister will oversee four bureaus concerned with AI tasks, comprising around 220 personnel. The post of deputy defense minister will be revived for the first time since 2006.

Meanwhile, the defense ministry convened a meeting Tuesday to review progress in adopting AI technology across the defense sector, chaired by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back.

"To address the challenge of a declining pool of military personnel, overhaul of military units, force and capability structures must proceed in tandem," Ahn said, emphasizing that now is the "golden time" for advancing AI technology in the defense sector.