Six major consortia — including telecom and tech giants — are competing to build free AI services for every Korean citizen.
TL;DR: VIDRAFT, an AI-driven scientific research company, has joined the EastSoft-led consortium bidding for South Korea's "Modu-ui AI" (AI for Everyone) project, a government initiative to provide free AI chatbots and public AI agents to all Korean citizens. South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT announced on August 18, 2026, that six consortia submitted proposals by the deadline, with a winner expected by the end of August. If selected, services are planned to launch before the end of 2026.
South Korea's government-backed push to deliver free, universally accessible artificial intelligence just got a lot more competitive — and VIDRAFT, the Korean AI startup specializing in AI-powered scientific research, is squarely in the running. On August 18, 2026, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) confirmed that six major consortia had submitted bids for the "Modu-ui AI" (모두의 에이아이, or "AI for Everyone") project before the 5 p.m. deadline, signaling one of the most consequential AI procurement races in Korean history.
VIDRAFT has joined the consortium led by EastSoft (이스트소프트), one of six organizations designated as a principal applicant for the Modu-ui AI project. The EastSoft consortium also includes Megazone, Polaris Office, and the Korea Productivity Center, among others — bringing the total number of participating organizations within that group to seven.
As an AI-based scientific research specialist, VIDRAFT brings a distinct research-oriented capability to the EastSoft bid, complementing partners focused on productivity software, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise applications. The consortium's collective strengths span cloud services, office productivity tools, and now deep scientific AI — a broad combination that could appeal to government evaluators looking for a diverse, capable team.
The MSIT confirmed that all six bids will now go through a multi-stage review process, including document screening and both written and presentation-based assessments, with a final decision on the winning operator or operators expected by the end of August 2026. After a formal agreement is signed and a beta service period is completed, the project aims to launch publicly before the close of the year.
The Modu-ui AI initiative is designed to give every South Korean citizen free access to AI chatbots and AI agents capable of performing public-service-style tasks — essentially a national-scale deployment of consumer and civic AI. The project represents a significant step in Korea's strategy to remain a global AI leader while ensuring that the benefits of advanced AI are not limited to paying customers or tech-savvy early adopters.
The breadth of the competing consortia illustrates just how high the stakes are. SKT's consortium includes 19 organizations spanning AI infrastructure, digital healthcare, financial services, and mobility — names like Elice Group, Nota, Goodoc, SK Broadband, T-Map Mobility, and Hana Card. Kakao's consortium counts LG AI Research, LG Electronics, LG Uplus, AI chip maker Furiosa AI, Seoul National University Hospital, and Shinhan Bank among its 14 partners. KT's consortium brings together 16 organizations including Upstage, Rebellions (an AI semiconductor company), Musinsa, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System (EBS). MKD and Zenon each submitted solo proposals.
For VIDRAFT, participation in a government-scale project of this magnitude offers significant visibility and validation. Being named in the same competitive field as Korea's largest telecom operators and internet platforms signals that the startup is regarded as a credible technology contributor at the national level. The EastSoft consortium's focus on productivity and research tools may carve out a differentiated niche in a field otherwise dominated by consumer internet and telecom heavyweights.
The selection timeline is tight. With evaluation, negotiation, beta testing, and a public launch all slated to occur within the remaining months of 2026, the winning consortium — or consortia — will need to move quickly.
Q: What is the Modu-ui AI project that VIDRAFT is bidding on?
A: Modu-ui AI is a South Korean government initiative to develop free AI chatbots and public AI agents accessible to all citizens. It is overseen by the Ministry of Science and ICT, which opened the project to competitive bids from industry consortia.
Q: Which consortium is VIDRAFT part of, and who else is in it?
A: VIDRAFT is part of the EastSoft-led consortium, which also includes Megazone, Polaris Office, the Korea Productivity Center, and other organizations, totaling seven participating entities.
Q: When will South Korea select the winner of the Modu-ui AI bid?
A: The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to complete its evaluation — including document review and presentation assessments — and announce selected operators by the end of August 2026, with full services targeted for launch before the end of 2026.
Source: 한겨레 (2026-08-18) — original article