South Korea to give citizens free, unlimited AI access

The South Korean administration announced a program to provide every citizen with free access to artificial intelligence services and unlimited usage tokens. Access will be delivered through a public digital platform and partnerships with private AI providers, with sign-in via national identification. The rollout will begin with pilot projects in selected regions before expanding nationwide.

Officials said the program will make conversational AI, automated content tools and other machine-learning applications available at no cost to individual users. The administration described the tokens as a way to remove per-user caps that typically limit query volume or API calls.

The policy aims to broaden access for students, small businesses, freelancers and researchers and to support workforce reskilling as employers adopt AI tools. The government expects baseline AI services to reduce barriers for households without paid subscriptions to commercial platforms.

Implementation will rely on a central platform to manage authentication, token issuance and usage monitoring. The government plans contracts with commercial AI firms to host or supply underlying models, and will fund the initiative from public budgets. Officials outlined oversight measures to track system use and capacity needs, and technical and legal controls to govern how user data are handled and to enforce terms of service.

Officials acknowledged that unlimited access for tens of millions of users will increase computing and maintenance costs. Authorities said they will monitor demand, adjust infrastructure and renegotiate vendor contracts as needed. The program will include public education on evaluating AI outputs and protecting personal information when using AI tools.

Privacy and safety advocates have requested clear rules on data retention, model transparency and mechanisms for redress in cases of harm or erroneous information. Lawmakers and regulators are expected to review risk controls and clarify responsibilities for providers and the state. Industry groups have expressed interest in partnering on the platform and supplying specialized services while calling for predictable procurement terms and stable funding.

The initiative forms part of South Korea’s broader national effort to expand digital capabilities. The government has previously invested in research centers, startup funding and education programs and plans to publish detailed operational guidelines for citizens and service partners before scaling the program nationwide.