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BriefSOCIETY

South Korea Launches AI Cognitive Enhancement Subsidy: Government Pays for Citizens' AI Assistant Subscriptions, Sparking Fairness Debate

South Korea launches a 50,000 won monthly AI cognitive enhancement subsidy for all citizens to pay for AI assistant subscriptions, aiming to close the digital divide, but critics warn it may deepen social stratification between enhanced and natural humans.

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT announced on December 23 the launch of the AI Cognitive Enhancement Subsidy Program, providing all South Korean citizens with a monthly 50,000 won (approximately $37) subsidy for AI assistant subscriptions. Citizens can use the subsidy for services including ChatGPT Pro, Claude Max, or Korean AI assistant Naver Clova X.

The program aims to close the AI digital divide. Currently, advanced AI assistant usage rates in low-income families are only one-third of high-income families. However, critics note that simply providing subscription fees cannot truly achieve equality, as high-income groups use far more advanced cognitive enhancement tools beyond basic AI assistants.

Seoul National University sociology professor Kim Sang-joon warned that we are entering an era where cognitive enhancement determines social class. The program begins distributing first subsidies in March 2029, covering approximately 51 million citizens at an estimated annual budget of 3 trillion won.