Sovereign AI Strategy: Korean IT Giants Choose Between Self-Reliance and Collaboration

Korea's leading IT companies are unveiling distinct strategic approaches in response to the Lee Jae-myung government's core national strategy of 'Sovereign AI,' with Samsung Electronics and KT pursuing collaboration while LG and Naver emphasize independent development.

Samsung Electronics' Collaboration-Centered Strategy

Samsung Electronics has positioned collaboration with global big tech companies as the core axis of sovereign AI construction. Samsung is expanding Galaxy AI services through partnerships with Google and Microsoft while developing its own AI technology.

A Samsung Electronics representative explained that "sovereign AI does not mean a closed concept but rather securing national-level AI competitiveness," adding that "more rapid and effective AI ecosystem construction is possible through global cooperation."

Samsung particularly employs a dual strategy of concentrating on AI chip development utilizing semiconductor sector strengths while strengthening collaboration with global partners in software sectors.

KT's Infrastructure-Based Collaboration Model

KT is pursuing a collaboration model based on telecommunications infrastructure strengths. While building upon its self-developed conversational AI 'GeniT,' KT is improving service quality through connections with overseas AI technologies.

KT's core strategy involves building AI service platforms utilizing 5G and cloud infrastructure. This enables providing customized AI solutions to enterprise customers while expanding partnerships with global AI companies.

LG AI Research's Independent Development Path

LG AI Research has chosen a different approach. LG focuses on developing its own large language models (LLM), pursuing relatively independent AI technology acquisition. This represents a long-term commitment to reducing technology dependence and building an independent AI ecosystem.

LG AI Research particularly demonstrates strength in developing Korean language-specialized AI models, expanding these into smart home solutions linked with LG Electronics' home appliances. This strategy offers advantages of securing differentiated competitiveness while reducing global dependence.

Naver's Korea-Specialized AI Platform Strategy

Naver focuses on building AI platforms specialized for the Korean market. Based on its self-developed large language model 'HyperCLOVA X,' Naver applies AI across various services including search, shopping, and webtoons.

Naver's strategy involves developing AI services optimized for Korean language and culture. This calculation aims to secure competitive advantages in areas that global big tech companies might relatively neglect.

Connectivity with Government Policy

These diverse corporate strategies are closely connected to the Lee Jae-myung government's sovereign AI policy. The government presents policy directions that secure AI sovereignty at the national level while guaranteeing corporate autonomy.

Government officials emphasize that "since companies have different resources and strengths, strengthening the overall AI ecosystem through diverse strategies rather than uniform approaches is important."

Global Competitiveness Challenges

However, experts point out that Korean companies need more bold investment and innovation to avoid falling behind in global AI competition. Particularly, securing AI talent and expanding R&D investment are identified as urgent tasks.

AI experts advise that "while current Korean companies' strategies each have advantages and disadvantages, ultimately execution capability and sustained investment will determine success or failure," emphasizing the need for close cooperation between government and companies.

Future Outlook and Implications

Korean IT companies' diversified approaches are evaluated as strategies suitable for the sovereign AI era. They are developing in directions that maximize each company's strengths while appropriately combining cooperation and self-reliance.

Industry observers anticipate that the next 2-3 years will be a crucial turning point for Korea's AI industry. Korea's AI competitiveness will likely be determined by how much each company's strategies achieve during this period.

Particularly, as the Lee Jae-myung government's sovereign AI policy is implemented concretely, corporate strategies are expected to become clearer. Companies that successfully balance cooperation and self-reliance are likely to emerge as ultimate winners.

Original Korean article: https://trendy.storydot.kr/it/sovereign-ai-korean-it-companies-strategies