KT announced on August 12th a strategic partnership with Vietnam’s state-owned ICT conglomerate Viettel Group, revealing a shared vision to develop Vietnam into a leading ‘Southeast Asia AX Hub.’
The two companies signed a ‘Strategic Partnership 2.0’ before the ‘Korea-Vietnam Business Forum,’ which was attended by more than 500 business leaders from both countries. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in joint efforts to establish national AI strategies and promote Autonomous Transformation (AX) across various industries, symbolizing a major stride in global AI and AX cooperation.
Building on their initial partnership formed in May, KT and Viettel will focus on four key areas: (1) establishing the national AI strategy and developing industry-specific AX platforms, (2) expanding AX projects across Southeast Asia, (3) strengthening AI-based cybersecurity, and (4) cultivating AX talent.
A major highlight involves the co-development of a ‘national general-purpose AI language model’ tailored to Vietnam’s language, culture, and administrative environment, aiming to support digital sovereignty in education, public administration, and public services. Additionally, they plan to create ‘vertical AX platforms’ optimized for critical sectors like healthcare, defense, and media, delivering customized AI solutions to industry-specific needs.
Viettel will share its global partner network to broaden collaboration throughout Southeast Asia, and both firms will work to expand technological cooperation with major tech companies and exchange information to ensure the success of Vietnam’s national AX projects while exploring regional market entry.
To foster AI talent, KT and Viettel are also moving forward with the establishment of the ‘Global AX Innovation Center (G-AXC),’ which will develop AI language model expertise, industrial pilot specialists, and practical training and certification programs to help Vietnamese citizens integrate AI into daily life.
In the security domain, the partners will jointly research solutions to combat AI-driven phishing and deepfake crimes, sharing expertise and technologies to create a safer AX environment.
KT CEO Kim Young-seop stated, “Developing a national AI strategy and industry-focused AX platforms contribute not only to technological advancement but also to securing Vietnam’s future growth engines. Together with Vietnam, we aim to open a new era in AI innovation.”
Viettel Chairman Thai Tieu Dung emphasized, “Through collaboration with KT, we will secure innovative platforms reflecting Vietnam’s unique data and industry characteristics, accelerating digital transformation across the nation’s industries.”
