# South Korea Certifies FortyTwoMaru AI Products

FortyTwoMaru, a South Korean AI startup led by CEO Dong-hwan Kim, has received government certification for its generative AI products LLM42 v.1.1 and RAG42 v.1.3 under South Korea's AI product-service verification scheme aligned with the AI Basic Act. This certification qualifies FortyTwoMaru for preferred procurement status in public sector projects, including those initiated by central ministries, local governments, and public institutions focused on AI transformation and AX buildout initiatives.

- This certification enhances FortyTwoMaru's eligibility for public procurement contracts, signaling increased opportunities for AI vendors in South Korea's government market.
- Procurement professionals should note the growing emphasis on certified AI products aligned with national AI policy frameworks, which may influence vendor selection criteria.
- Contractors and suppliers can leverage this certification to position their AI solutions for upcoming government digital transformation projects.
- Organizations involved in AI procurement should consider the implications of the AI Basic Act and related verification schemes on compliance and qualification requirements.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** September 16, 2026

### Government Entities
- Government of South Korea

### Vendors
- FortyTwoMaru (prime contractor)

### Key Quotes
> With this preferred qualification for procurement in addition to the AI reliability certification we previously obtained, we will accelerate efforts to target AX buildout projects at central ministries, local governments and public institutions, as well as the public procurement market.
> — Dong-hwan Kim, CEO

### Sources
- [FortyTwoMaru wins government certification under AI product-service verification scheme](https://www.digitaltoday.co.kr/en/view/104359/fortytwomaru-wins-government-certification-under-ai-product-service-verification-scheme) - 디지털투데이