South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare sets out five-year AI roadmap for welfare and care

South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has moved forward with plans to integrate artificial intelligence across its welfare and care services, outlining the framework for a five-year innovation strategy at a task force meeting held on 26 February.

The fourth session of the AI Welfare and Care Innovation Task Force, chaired by Vice Minister Lee Seuran, focused on implementation strategies for the forthcoming Welfare and Care AI Innovation Plan, covering the period 2026 to 2030. The task force was established in August 2025 to consolidate AI-related initiatives across the ministry’s departments and identify new areas for development.

The plan, expected to be formally announced in the first half of this year, aims to deploy AI and data technologies to streamline welfare administration, improve access to services, and reduce the administrative burden on frontline workers. Secure data management systems for welfare-related information are also included in the proposals.

In the care sector, the strategy responds to increasing service demand against a backdrop of worker shortages and fragmented delivery. Proposed measures include hybrid models combining technology with human-delivered care, support for recipients in home and residential settings, and infrastructure to pilot and scale new approaches.

The ministry said responsible deployment would be supported by AI ethics standards and a governance model drawing on collaboration between the public sector, private industry, and academia. Improving AI literacy among frontline workers and service users is also identified as a priority.

Public consultation is planned for March and April, with expert forums and hearings scheduled before the plan is finalised.

Vice Minister Lee said the initiative was aimed at addressing the structural limitations of existing systems rather than the adoption of technology for its own sake.