Enabling Data-Driven Innovation and AI Government in Korea

Enabling Data-Driven Innovation and AI Government in Korea

von Seok-Jin Eom

This book examines how Korea is pioneering the integration of data-driven innovation and artificial intelligence in public administration. It offers a comprehensive analysis of Korea’s data policies since the 2010s, examining governance structures, legal frameworks, and national data platforms such as the Public Open Data Portal, Big Data Platforms, and AI Hub.

Moving beyond policy review, the book introduces the concept of an AI government —a transformative model that leverages advanced technologies to deliver smarter, more efficient public services. Through practical frameworks like the AI Government Foundation Model and modular service strategies, it provides actionable insights for implementing AI-driven governance.

Designed for scholars, policymakers, and technology leaders, this book combines rigorous research with global relevance, offering lessons and strategies that extend far beyond Korea. It is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand or shape the future of digital governance and AI-enabled public service innovation.

This book examines how Korea is pioneering the integration of data-driven innovation and artificial intelligence in public administration. It offers a comprehensive analysis of Korea’s data policies since the 2010s, examining governance structures, legal frameworks, and national data platforms such as the Public Open Data Portal, Big Data Platforms, and AI Hub.

Moving beyond policy review, the book introduces the concept of an AI government —a transformative model that leverages advanced technologies to deliver smarter, more efficient public services. Through practical frameworks like the AI Government Foundation Model and modular service strategies, it provides actionable insights for implementing AI-driven governance.

Designed for scholars, policymakers, and technology leaders, this book combines rigorous research with global relevance, offering lessons and strategies that extend far beyond Korea. It is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand or shape the future of digital governance and AI-enabled public service innovation.

Highlights

• In-depth review of Korea’s data-driven transformation since the 2010s, including governance, law and technology Proposes a practical model and strategies for building an AI-driven government in Korea Provides actionable guidance for other countries seeking to adopt data-driven innovation and AI in public administration

Über den Autor

Seok-Jin Eom is a professor of Graduate School of Public Administration at Seoul National University, Korea. He received his Ph.D in public administration from Seoul National University. He has published a number of papers in academic journals including Government Information Quarterly, Public Management Review, Administration & Society, and Perspectives on Public Management and Governance. Dr. Eom served as a lead-program chair for dg.o 2020. His current research interests include evolution of e-governance in the digital era, the digital transformation of government as well as public governance in the era of economic growth in Korea. 

Yoon-seok Ko is a vice president at National Information society Agency (NIA), and he has been working for NIA from 2003. He majored in Computer Science for undergraduate at the University of Georgia in the U.S. and got M.S. in Information Systems at Yonsei University in Korea. His specialty is e-government, ICT convergence, and data. He has planned and managed nation-wide e-government projects such as Government Business Management System Project and Government Information Data Center Project. He has also worked at PCGID (Presidential Committee on Government Innovation & Decentralization) to oversee presidential agenda, especially e-government projects. He is currently serving as a member of the Presidential Digital Platform Government Committee Task Force and as a Senior Advisor at the World Bank. 

Park Jeong Eun is a researcher fellow at National Information society Agency (NIA). She received her Ph.D in public administration from Ewha Womans University. She served as a vice president of the department of ICT Policy at NIA. She also served as an ICT advisor for Gyeonggi Province. She was a visiting professor at Kyung Hee University and vice president of the Internet Ethics Association. 

Keon Chul Park is an Assistant Professor in the School of Business Administration at Tech University of Korea, appointed in September 2025. He currently serves as the Director of the university’s Institutional Research (IR) Center and leads the Urban AI Engineering House (EH), where he focuses on developing AI applications for urban environments. Prior to his current academic appointment, Dr. Park served as the Head Researcher of the AI X Research Center at the Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Korea. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Information Systems from Yonsei University. His research interests center on urban computing and urban intelligence, with a focus on applying advanced data technologies, such as big data and AI, to metropolitan areas. His current research emphasizes enhancing urban services and infrastructure through machine/deep learning. Dr. Park is dedicated to leveraging technology to solve complex urban challenges and improve the quality of life.