"Security-specialized AI foundation models are not technologies for a single company but infrastructure for enhancing national competitiveness."
Kim Yu-won, CEO of Naver Cloud, stated on the 17th at 'Cyber Summit Korea 2026' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, "Given the significant role we have undertaken, we will approach it with deep responsibility." Kim (CEO) delivered a keynote speech at the event under the theme 'Beyond Borders: Building Trust in a Connected World'.
The Naver Cloud consortium was selected earlier this month as the final implementing institutional investor for the development project of security-specialized AI foundation models. Kim (CEO) praised itself for assembling a consortium with Korea's top experts. Naver Cloud formed the consortium with LG Group affiliates including LG CNS, LG AI Research Institute, and LG Uplus; AI and security companies such as Eastsec, Trilion Labs, TIO Korea, and HyperXcel; Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI); Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power; Financial Security Institute; Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI); and universities including Seoul National University, KAIST, and Pohang University of Science and Technology.
Kim (CEO) emphasized that security is a field where the entire ecosystem can be jeopardized if the weakest link is targeted, thus requiring national-level capabilities. Kim (CEO) stated, "Large corporations and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in core industries such as semiconductors, defense, and aerospace are interconnected. Since it is realistically difficult for every company to invest sufficiently in security, we must leverage national-level security capabilities."
Naver Cloud's ultimate goal is to export the technologies developed through this project to global markets. Kim (CEO) explained, "Naver (NAVER) recently declared its leap into becoming a global AI factory together with NVIDIA. We aim to ensure that AI security models operate in AI factories around the world and utilize each hub as a cyber security center."
Kim (CEO) diagnosed that in the AI era, cyber threats are being restructured from 'human versus human' to 'AI versus AI'. Kim (CEO) elaborated, "AI can now identify its own vulnerabilities and launch attacks on its own, shortening response cycles that previously took several months down to just tens of minutes."
Accordingly, international efforts to protect cyber security are crucial. Kim (CEO) cited examples such as NATO's 'Locked Shields', the UN's 'Global Mechanism', DEF CON, and the Open Secure AI Alliance. Kim (CEO) added, "Naver Cloud is also striving to strengthen its cyber security capabilities by participating in various international training programs and alliances."
Meanwhile, Cyber Summit Korea 2026 is a joint event hosted by the National Intelligence Service and the National Security Technology Research Institute, running from the 16th to the 18th. The summit was launched in 2024 with the purpose of fostering international cooperation in responding to cyber threats.
in TECH
