South Korea to give all citizens free access to AI to boost local chatbots

South Korea will provide all citizens with free access to AI to promote its own chatbots and reduce dependence on American and Chinese models. Seoul plans to offer the entire population premium-level generative AI services. This is the first major government program where AI is treated as public infrastructure—essentially as a utility service. The goal is to encourage people to use domestic chatbots and strengthen the country's technological sovereignty.