Kyung Hee University Medical Center (KHUH) said it will collaborate with Kakao Healthcare in a government-led project to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based healthcare services for children and adolescents, with a particular focus on allergies, growth, and obesity. 

The initiative is part of a government-led program to advance AI medical services in Korea.

The project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, brings together 13 medical institutions across the country. The government has pledged to invest 32 billion won ($24 million) over the next four years, with the project set to run until 2027.

Kakao Healthcare will lead the consortium and KHUH will serve as a key testing site for the development of a specialized large language model (LLM) platform tailored for pediatric patients.

Kyung Hee University Medical Center's involvement will focus on several innovative services, including interactive pediatric health consultations covering general health advice, medication information, emergency guidance, and rare disease support.

In detail, the hospital will work on personalized disease prediction for children, with a focus on allergies, growth, and obesity.

Also, the project aims to develop customized case recommendations for blood disorders and respiratory infections, as well as AI-assisted prescription support for pediatric medications and emergencies.

Once developed and tested, these AI services are expected to be made available to healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers through appropriate platforms, including KakaoTalk.

"This project opens a new chapter in the evolution of medical services," Professor Hong Seung-jae of the Department of Rheumatology and the project lead said. "We are committed to supporting children and adolescents in receiving prompt, accurate, and optimal treatment through this innovative technology."