State institute partners with customs office to develop AI-based anti-smuggling technology

SEOUL -- A state research institute has joined hands with a government tax organization to develop an artificial intelligence-based anti-smuggling technology that will pick out cargo containing contraband goods. Trade and customs data in the public sector would be used to incubate AI researchers.

The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) said in a statement on February 23 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Customs Service to jointly set up and test a customs data analytics center.
"This cooperation agreement has a great meaning as it is important for an AI to experience data from various sectors in order to upgrade its capabilities," IBS head Noh Do-young said.

The center will be test-operated for three years to develop anti-smuggling techniques. Analyzed data will be used to work out administrative policies and evaluate efficacy. South Korea has adopted a variety of information technologies to increase work efficiency, save operating costs, and prevent illegal activities.

In 2019, Busan, which has the world's fifth-largest port, was selected to adopt blockchain, an unhackable virtual ledger system, for its terminal-to-terminal cargo transit system in real-time. CJ Logistics, South Korea's largest logistics service operator, developed an AI-based cargo tracking system in January 2021. The system allows logistics companies to accurately track cargo ships and plan their delivery schedules in different countries to save time and costs.