Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

The Ministry of National Defense plans to carry out a “regional and unit-level defense AI expansion program,” a field package program aimed at increasing the awareness and ability to use artificial intelligence (AI) by soldiers.

The program will be carried out by region and unit sequentially, starting with the Ground Operations Command in Yongin on August 8-9, until the first half of 2025.

* In the second half of 2024, the program will be implemented in major combat units such as operational commands and frontline corps, and in the first half of 2025, it will be performed for officer cadets and units in charge of officer training.

The program is open not only to soldiers in hub units but also to those serving in neighboring units.

The program kick-off will take place on August 8 and 9 at the Ground Operations Command, and its main contents are as follows.

First, data and AI applications (46 in total) in the areas of security operations, education and training and medical support, which were presented during the Defense Data AI Proliferation Week in July this year, will be displayed at the multipurpose gymnasium of the Ground Operations Command.

Second, experiential education and lectures will be conducted to enhance soldiers’ understanding of AI technology. In the experiential education, soldiers will create writing, images and music using AI, and on August 9, Son Byeong-hee, head of Maum AI’s Global Platform Headquarters, will give a lecture on AI literacy.

* AI literacy: the ability to understand and apply AI technology in a meaningful and responsible way.

Third, the Defense Counterintelligence Command will conduct training on AI security for its soldiers. It is essential to establish AI security to disseminate and use AI in a special military environment where connection to the outside world is limited and military security considerations are critical. The AI security education will teach soldiers about vulnerabilities in AI technology and security breaches, as well as security rules and guidelines.

In addition to programs taking place in various units, including the Ground Operations Command, an “ideas competition” will be held for the general public and soldiers to explore fresh and creative ideas for the application and dissemination of defense AI.

The online idea contest will collect ideas on how to develop the future defense sector using AI from August 8 to October 7, and the outstanding ideas that are finally selected through preliminary competitions will be given Defense Minister awards and cash prizes.

The Defense Ministry will educate all military personnel to feel the need for AI and cultivate the ability to use it with the defense AI expansion program, and will make efforts to raise awareness of the practical application and dissemination of data and AI technology.