South Korea to double spending on AI and chips in 2027

South Korea to double spending on AI and chips in 2027

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a budget speech for 2027 at the National Assembly in Seoul on November 2, 2026. Photo by LEE JIN-MAN / POOL / AFP

South Korea will double spending on AI and semiconductors in 2027 to a record high, the president said Monday, pledging to use the technology to turn the military into a "smart, elite force".