Health ministry launches AI pilot to cut red tape in welfare services

The health ministry said Wednesday it has signed agreements with Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, Gyeonggi Province and North Chungcheong Province to pilot artificial intelligence systems for routine welfare tasks.

Operating from August through December, the AI policy laboratory will test a generative AI counselor capable of natural conversation and an administrative tool that checks documents. The three regions were selected through a competitive public recruitment and evaluation process.

The ministry has pushed for AI adoption to strengthen the social safety net by identifying underserved households while reducing the heavy workload burdening field officials.

Unlike earlier systems limited to fixed scripts, the new counseling AI engages in two-way dialogue to understand complex household situations and recommend tailored services. The administrative assistant draws on welfare guidelines to answer staff queries and verify supporting documents.

Jin Young-joo, the ministry's director general for social welfare policy, called the shift an urgent necessity.

"Starting with this AI policy laboratory, we will gradually expand artificial intelligence across all welfare administration to drastically reduce the workload of local governments and implement a smart safety net that more closely embraces the lives of our people," Jin said.

Following the pilot, the ministry plans to refine the technology based on field feedback before expanding the system nationwide.