Bae Kyung-hoon

Bae Kyung-hoon (Korean: 배경훈; born 1976) is a South Korean artificial intelligence (AI) expert and the Minister of Science and ICT under the Lee Jae Myung administration. As the head of LG AI Research since 2020, he has been a leading figure in South Korea's AI industry and policy advisory circles.

In this Korean name, the family name is Bae.

Bae Kyung-hoon
배경훈
Bae in 2025
6th Minister of Science and ICT
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 July 2025
President	Lee Jae Myung
Preceded by	Yoo Sang-im
Personal details
Born	1976 (age 48–49) South Korea
Alma mater	Kwangwoon University (BS, MS, PhD) Columbia Southern University (MBA)
Occupation	Director of LG AI Research (2020–2025)
Profession	Artificial intelligence researcher, executive
Korean name
Hangul	배경훈
RR	Bae Gyeonghun
MR	Pae Kyŏnghun

Education

Bae earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering and Physics from Kwangwoon University in 2001. He completed his Master of Science in Computer Vision at the same university in 2003, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Vision from Kwangwoon University in 2006. In addition, he obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia Southern University in 2005.

He also completed several executive education programs, including Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy at the MIT Sloan School of Management and MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) in 2020; Big Data, Strategic Decisions: Analysis to Action at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2019; and Advanced Project Management at Stanford University in 2006.

Career

Bae began his career at SK Telecom, where he worked on applied artificial intelligence technologies. He later served as Chief of the AI Technology Division at LG Uplus, before being appointed head of LG AI Research in December 2020. Under his leadership, LG significantly expanded its AI research initiatives, including establishing a joint laboratory with Seoul National University.

In addition to his corporate roles, Bae has served in national advisory capacities. He is a member of the Presidential AI Council and a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology.

Nomination as science minister

On June 23, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung nominated Bae as the next Minister of Science and I, citing his expertise in AI strategy and industry experience. His appointment aligns with the administration's push to make South Korea a global top-three AI powerhouse.^[1]

Bae is expected to work closely with Ha Jung-woo (Naver AI's chief), who was appointed as the Senior Secretary for AI and Future Planning, to advance national AI infrastructure and policies.^[2]

Bae's scrutinity hearing in the South Korean National Assembly was held on 14 July 2025.^[3][4]16 July 2025, Lee Jae-myung appointed Bae as the Minister of Science and ICT.^[5]