Seoul, 2 November 2026 – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has urged lawmakers to approve a proposed 2027 budget that would raise government spending by a record 12.8% to 820.9 trillion won. The plan includes 21.3 trillion won for artificial intelligence and three technology megaprojects—semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centres—nearly twice this year’s allocation for the combined programme.
The proposal matters to Asian businesses and investors because it would direct public funding toward industries already driving South Korea’s export growth, while shaping demand for chips, computing infrastructure and related suppliers. The figures are part of a budget request awaiting parliamentary approval, not enacted spending. Its fiscal forecasts and industrial priorities should therefore be read as government plans rather than guaranteed contracts or corporate earnings.
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