TLDR: The Seoul Metropolitan Government is significantly expanding its generative AI capabilities, allowing employees to use 29 different AI models, including popular platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini, for various administrative tasks. This initiative, which includes a pilot of ‘Seoul AI Chat’ by December, aims to enhance efficiency and transform public administration, moving beyond the previous restriction to a single AI model.
In a significant move to modernize its administrative processes, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced a major expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for staff. Effective immediately, employees will have access to a diverse suite of 29 generative AI models, including industry leaders such as ChatGPT and Gemini, for a wide array of administrative duties. This marks a substantial shift from the previous policy, which limited staff to a single designated AI model.
The city’s Digital City Department revealed on September 3, 2025, that it will be implementing a new generative AI capability service, tentatively named ‘Seoul AI Chat.’ This service is slated for a pilot application in various work streams by December of this year. The goal is to allow employees greater flexibility in choosing AI tools best suited for their specific tasks, thereby boosting efficiency and innovation within the government.
The demand for AI integration among Seoul’s public servants has been evident. Last year, a pilot subscription service for generative AI saw an overwhelming response, with applications exceeding the available 570 slots by more than fourfold. This strong interest prompted the city to broaden access to multiple models, moving away from the more restrictive subscription-based approach.
Looking ahead, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans a comprehensive evaluation of both the existing subscription and the new expanded capacity plans. This assessment will scrutinize usage patterns, frequencies, employee satisfaction, and overall service quality. The findings from this pilot phase will be crucial in determining the full-scale implementation strategy for generative AI across the city’s administration next year.
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Kang Ok-hyun, head of Seoul’s Digital City Department, articulated the ambitious vision behind this initiative. “In the future, we will utilize AI as an administrative tool that citizens can experience, transforming Seoul’s AI administration from being the first in the nation to becoming a ‘national standard,'” Kang stated. This forward-looking approach underscores Seoul’s commitment to pioneering AI adoption in public service and setting a benchmark for other national and international entities. The article itself notes that it was translated by AI, highlighting the very technology it reports on.
