South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says Korea can become a global leader in the AI era by leveraging its strengths and addressing weaknesses as the country pursues its goal of becoming an AI powerhouse. Speaking after receiving briefings from the science ministry and other government agencies on policy progress, Lee frames AI as a major “civilization-level transformation,” likening it to historic technological breakthroughs. He argues that this period is a “decisive opportunity” and that Korea should aim to lead rather than follow by building on existing capabilities.
The administration’s stance is aligned with state-backed efforts, including large planned investments announced earlier by the Lee government. According to one report, the government unveiled three “megaprojects” tied to establishing an AI ecosystem, including major spending for semiconductor production, “physical AI” initiatives, and the development of AI data centers, with a total investment figure reported as over 4,000 trillion won. Separately, an expert “consensus” view emphasizes that AI-led growth is expected to drive economic transformation, while also noting that the sector may experience significant future ups and downs.
