Korea's startup agency launches AI advisory panel to drive digital transformation

The Korea Startup Promotion Agency is launching an external expert advisory system to integrate AI into its startup support programs and internal administrative operations.

The agency, known by its Korean acronym Changjinwon, launched its "AI Transformation Policy Advisory Panel" in Seoul on Tuesday and held the panel's first meeting, it announced Wednesday.

The panel comprises eight members — three public-sector specialists and five experts from academia and industry. It will review AI transformation strategies for the agency's internal operations and for the broader startup ecosystem, and assess the feasibility and priority of proposed initiatives.

The public-sector representatives are Kim Pan-geon, a KAIST professor and member of the National AI Strategy Committee; Park Sang-hyeon, a division head at the National Information Society Agency (NIA); and Jo Su-wan, a division head at the Korea Data Industry Promotion Agency.

The private-sector members are Kim Mi-ryang, a professor in the computer education department at Sungkyunkwan University; Park Jeong-won, a professor in the public administration department at Gyeongkuk National University; Lee Hyeon-jin, a senior director of Alliances & Channels at Oracle; Ju Hui-yeop, chief executive of IP2B; and Park Jin-a, chief executive of ABLEARN.

The agency plans to use AI to streamline repetitive internal administrative tasks while also expanding AI applications across its startup support programs. The advisory panel will weigh in not only on whether to adopt individual initiatives but also on the agency's medium- and long-term AI transformation roadmap and strategies for spreading results.

At the inaugural meeting, members reviewed the panel's operating plan and held an expert discussion on the agency's medium- and long-term AI transformation strategy.

The panel's launch comes as the government moves to accelerate AI adoption across the public sector. The Ministry of Interior and Safety presented a strategy titled "Realizing the World's Best AI Democratic Government" at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, outlining a pan-government plan to apply AI across public administration. Key priorities include expanding AI-based consultation services and AI public assistants, and developing AI talent within the public sector.

In the startup sector, momentum is growing to simultaneously pursue AI-driven company development and greater operational efficiency at support agencies. Changjinwon plans to use the advisory panel's discussions to identify tasks in both internal administration and startup support programs where AI can be applied, and to set priorities accordingly.

"The policy advisory panel plays a vital role in driving operational innovation that startups and our staff can actually feel," said Yu Jong-pil, president of the Korea Startup Promotion Agency. "We will lead the way in AI transformation, from implementation to the spread of results."