South Korea to launch free domestic AI chatbot in 2026

South Korea says it plans to launch a free AI chatbot built on domestic technology this year, part of a broader push to cut reliance on foreign platforms and strengthen what policymakers increasingly call AI sovereignty.

According to market research firm Wiseapp-Retail, roughly half of South Korea’s 51 million people used generative AI apps in February. Nearly 23 million of them used ChatGPT, the service developed by OpenAI.

A spokesperson for South Korea’s science ministry told AFP on Tuesday that the government initiative aims to roll out both a general-purpose AI chatbot and an AI agent capable of handling more complex tasks by the end of the year.

“To persuade users to move away from foreign AI services they already pay for, we need to provide services that are even better.”

Bae said at a Monday briefing that Seoul wants to move quickly into the era of AI agents and compete there. Under the government’s “AI for All” scheme, the first priority is to integrate public AI agent services that offer functions not currently available on foreign platforms.

The government also says the plan is meant to narrow the digital divide by making AI services free, rather than tying access to monthly subscriptions. Starting in 2027, Seoul plans to expand the system into personalized AI agents that could help with:

Recommended reading

AI Won’t Replace Coders, but It Will Reshape the Job

• asset management
• learning support
• retirement planning

Kim Yong-beom, senior presidential secretary for policy, wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday that free domestic AI services could drive users toward Korean platforms, helping demand and data build up enough for the local market to grow on its own. He added that a public AI agent could also help people find and apply for relevant government services.

The announcement coincides with the start of South Korea’s AI Basic Act, which took effect Tuesday and creates a national legal framework for the sector. The law requires labeling of generative AI content, adds oversight for tools that could affect physical safety or fundamental rights, and expands government support for the industry.

It also identifies 10 sensitive fields subject to stricter transparency and safety requirements, including nuclear power, criminal investigations, loan screening, education, and medical care.