West Power, Incheon Airport Win Public-Sector AI Awards

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and Ministry of Economy and Finance jointly held the 2026 Public Institution AI Innovation Awards on the 28th at Nuritkum Square in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The event shared results from the Public Institution AI Innovation Challenge, the public-sector track of the National AI Competition, and recognized outstanding projects. In its first year, the challenge received 316 submissions from 105 institutions between June and August. After two rounds of expert review, 30 projects were selected, including 2 grand prizes and 8 excellence awards.

Korea Western Power won the grand prize in the AI Service Demonstration and Proof of Concept (PoC) category for “Korea’s First K-Gas Turbine Operated by AI and Inspected by Robots.” Judges recognized its use of AI to analyze power-plant equipment data and its integration of a digital twin (a virtual model of a physical system), AI agents and robots. The project also integrated a domestically made neural processing unit (NPU), a chip designed for neural-network computations, and AI models. The Ministry of Science and ICT said it is expected to generate about 2.1 billion won in annual economic benefits.

Incheon International Airport Corporation won the grand prize in the Outstanding AI Use Cases category. It was recognized for replacing aviation safety management centered on visual checks and personnel with a 24-hour AI prediction and detection system, enabling earlier responses to risks during aircraft takeoffs and landings.

AI services connected to everyday life were also exhibited at the event. Korea Electric Power Corporation presented a service that analyzes living patterns, including electricity use by people living alone, to detect warning signs and risks of dying alone early. The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation demonstrated an AI watermark-based global authentication service for K-brands. AI generates and identifies a unique digital watermark on each product, allowing consumers to check authenticity using a smartphone photo. Ryu Je-myeong, second vice minister of Science and ICT, said the ministry would support the development of independent AI models, expansion of AI computing capacity, and testing and wider adoption of domestic NPUs to help Korean AI technology see broad use in public services.

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and Ministry of Economy and Finance jointly held the 2026 Public Institution AI Innovation Awards on the 28th at Nuritkum Square in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The event shared results from the Public Institution AI Innovation Challenge, the public-sector track of the National AI Competition, and recognized outstanding projects. In its first year, the challenge received 316 submissions from 105 institutions between June and August. After two rounds of expert review, 30 projects were selected, including 2 grand prizes and 8 excellence awards.

Korea Western Power won the grand prize in the AI Service Demonstration and Proof of Concept (PoC) category for “Korea’s First K-Gas Turbine Operated by AI and Inspected by Robots.” Judges recognized its use of AI to analyze power-plant equipment data and its integration of a digital twin (a virtual model of a physical system), AI agents and robots. The project also integrated a domestically made neural processing unit (NPU), a chip designed for neural-network computations, and AI models. The Ministry of Science and ICT said it is expected to generate about 2.1 billion won in annual economic benefits.

Incheon International Airport Corporation won the grand prize in the Outstanding AI Use Cases category. It was recognized for replacing aviation safety management centered on visual checks and personnel with a 24-hour AI prediction and detection system, enabling earlier responses to risks during aircraft takeoffs and landings.

AI services connected to everyday life were also exhibited at the event. Korea Electric Power Corporation presented a service that analyzes living patterns, including electricity use by people living alone, to detect warning signs and risks of dying alone early. The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation demonstrated an AI watermark-based global authentication service for K-brands. AI generates and identifies a unique digital watermark on each product, allowing consumers to check authenticity using a smartphone photo. Ryu Je-myeong, second vice minister of Science and ICT, said the ministry would support the development of independent AI models, expansion of AI computing capacity, and testing and wider adoption of domestic NPUs to help Korean AI technology see broad use in public services.