South Korea will launch a new government task force led by Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il to tackle widening inequality, warning that the artificial intelligence boom risks splitting the country into a "K-shaped" divide in which some pull ahead while others fall behind. The plan was unveiled on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, at a meeting of economy-related ministers in Seoul.

The task force will consist of five working groups covering the labour market, industries, regions, generations and social classes, Lee said at the meeting. Each group will be led by a vice minister responsible for its area and will work with state-run research institutes to identify the key policy tasks, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily, reporting Yonhap.

Why South Korea is acting now

The government said growth driven by semiconductors and information technology was not reaching all parts of society, and that the shift to AI could make the gap worse. "The AI transformation could deepen and accelerate disparities, leading to a K-shaped divide," the government said. It added: "There are concerns that the benefits of growth are not being shared equally with those at the bottom, while upward mobility remains limited."

Lee, who is also deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, has made spreading the gains of growth a central theme since taking office in September 2026. At a joint meeting of economic ministers in late October he said growth must improve people's lives and pledged to focus on reducing inequality.

How the task force will work

The task force will be led by Lee and will include ministers from relevant departments and the head of the Economic and Social Research Institute, according to Aju Press. A steering committee co-led by the first vice ministers of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Health and Welfare will run the task force day to day, alongside the five working groups.

The working groups will officially launch on Thursday, 12 November, with each set to report its detailed goals to the task force by early December. The key policy agendas they identify will be reflected in South Korea's economic growth plan for 2027.

Part of a wider economic reset

The inequality plan was announced alongside a change to how South Korea sets out its economic outlook. Lee said the government will release annual economic growth forecasts three times a year from 2027, up from two, replacing the separate second-half growth strategy, so that policy can respond more quickly to changing conditions. Details are to be announced in December after discussions with relevant ministries.

The task force's first test will be whether it can turn the December reports into concrete measures on jobs, pay and opportunity in the sectors and regions that the semiconductor and AI boom has left behind, rather than a further round of targets. Its findings will feed directly into the 2027 growth strategy, giving the government a deadline to show results.

Frequently asked questions

What is South Korea's inequality task force? A government task force led by Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il, with five working groups covering the labour market, industries, regions, generations and social classes.

What is a K-shaped divide? A split in which one part of society pulls ahead while another falls further behind, rather than everyone rising together. The government fears AI could accelerate that split.

When will the task force report? The five working groups launch on 12 November 2026 and are due to report their detailed goals by early December, feeding into the 2027 economic growth plan.