South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon says the wealth generated by artificial intelligence should benefit the wider public, not only companies or select groups. In remarks to CNBC, he raises concerns that AI-driven growth could widen wealth gaps and potentially lead to job losses. Bae links those worries to recent labour tensions at Samsung Electronics, where a near shutdown this week highlighted the possibility of broader disruptions. He characterizes the Samsung dispute as an early example of challenges the country may face as AI adoption accelerates, suggesting that policymakers and industry need to address the social impact of automation and technology-driven restructuring. While the deputy PM’s comments emphasize risks around employment and inequality, they also frame AI as an opportunity that requires safeguards to ensure more inclusive outcomes. Across the reporting, the core message is that South Korea must steer AI-related economic gains toward public benefit while preparing for labour and social effects that could arise in the AI era.