On January 15, 2026, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced the results of the first-round evaluation for the "Independent AI Foundation Model" (독자 AI 파운데이션 모델, referred to as "DokPaMo") project. This project involves a multi-stage selection process to identify and advance consortia capable of developing independent AI foundation models. The core methodology for this phase involved an evaluation by the MSIT to assess the submitted proposals and capabilities of participating consortia. Based on this initial assessment, three consortia successfully passed this rigorous first evaluation: LG AI Research (LG AI연구원), SK Telecom (SK텔레콤), and Upstage (업스테이지). These three entities are now slated to proceed to the second stage of the project. The MSIT also indicated that an additional consortium will be recruited, bringing the total number of participants advancing to the second stage to four. Conversely, two consortia, Naver Cloud (네이버클라우드) and NC AI, were eliminated during this first evaluation round, failing to meet the project's criteria for advancement.