South Korea to move decisively in adopting AI in defense operations | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation

By Choonsik Yoo ( September 1, 2025, 07:26 GMT | Insight) -- South Korea’s defense ministry is shifting from research and preparation to actively adopting AI technologies, with a comprehensive defense AI policy paper planned by early 2026, a ministry official told MLex. The move reflects President Lee Jae Myung’s pledge to make use of AI across the country the main driver of economic recovery. Initial applications will focus on administration, manpower management and surveillance systems, while large-scale combat uses are expected to take longer due to technological challenges. South Korea’s defense ministry plans to begin adopting artificial intelligence technology as broadly as possible, moving away from its previous strategy of focusing primarily on study and preparation, and acknowledging the sustained proliferation of AI across industries and countries....

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