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13 January 2025
South Korea has announced a comprehensive five-year roadmap to propel research and development in artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare. This initiative, running through 2028, reflects the country’s broader ambition to leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance public health and well-being.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare aims to bolster AI R&D in critical areas such as essential healthcare and new drug development while improving medical data systems to ensure the safe and effective use of AI.
Ambitious Growth Projections for Korea’s AI Healthcare Market
The roadmap aligns with projections that Korea’s AI healthcare market will grow at a robust 50.8% annual rate from 2023 to 2030, surpassing the global average of 41.8%. Over the past five years, South Korea has invested KRW 2.2 trillion ($1.7 billion) in medical AI-related national R&D, achieving an average annual growth of 33%.
Bridging the Gap in Laws, Talent, and Technology
Despite the optimistic outlook, South Korea faces challenges, including a 2.7-year technology gap compared to the United States in key AI healthcare areas such as AI-driven drug discovery. The country also grapples with a shortage of regulations and skilled labour to meet the demands of the growing AI healthcare sector.
The government’s roadmap sets ambitious targets, including doubling the commercialisation of healthcare AI technologies, reducing the technology gap by over a year, and increasing R&D investment.
“The ministry plans to continue to seek diverse efforts to improve national medical quality and public health by expanding health data and AI-driven digital healthcare services,” said Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Minsoo Park during a recent policy review meeting.
Advancing AI R&D and Medical Data Systems
Key initiatives under the roadmap include:
Focus on Critical Healthcare Areas:
Expanding AI applications in emergency care, serious diseases, and cancer. Generative AI technologies will also enhance communication between physicians and patients, improving treatment convenience
New Drug Development:
Strengthening AI’s role throughout the drug development lifecycle—from drug discovery to clinical trials. Projects will accelerate drug discovery using shared algorithm analysis and enable pharma companies, universities, and research institutes to optimise AI models.
Clinical Research Optimisation:
AI will support clinical trial predictions, automate testing processes, and streamline data analysis. A new platform will integrate AI into next-generation clinical research management systems.
Improving Medical Data Accessibility:
Developing a platform to consolidate medical data from hospitals and public institutions, making it easier for AI researchers and companies to access. The roadmap also includes processes for study applications, pseudonymisation, and data analysis to create a robust ecosystem for health and medical data research.
Establishing Ethical Frameworks
Recognising the importance of responsible AI use, the government plans to establish comprehensive ethical principles and detailed guidelines for the development and application of AI in healthcare.
This roadmap represents South Korea’s commitment to being a global leader in healthcare innovation, setting a strong foundation for AI-driven advancements in medicine and public health.