South Korean President Lee Jae-myung officially launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee on September 8th at Seoul Square, declaring his administration's bold vision to transform Korea into one of the world's top three AI superpowers. This landmark initiative represents the most significant AI policy framework in Korea's history, positioning artificial intelligence as the cornerstone of the nation's future competitiveness and economic prosperity.
For American readers unfamiliar with Korea's political structure, it's important to understand that President Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party administration has made AI development a central pillar of national policy, similar to how the Biden administration has prioritized semiconductor manufacturing and clean energy initiatives. The committee's establishment marks a decisive shift toward government-led AI innovation, reflecting Korea's urgent response to intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence technology.
During the ceremony held at 2 PM on the 17th floor of Seoul Square in Jung-gu, Seoul, President Lee delivered a powerful message about Korea's technological crossroads. "We stand at a massive historical turning point that will determine whether we become laggards at risk of being left behind or leaders enjoying unlimited opportunities," he declared. This statement reflects the high-stakes nature of AI competition, where nations risk economic marginalization if they fail to maintain technological leadership.
The President emphasized his vision for "AI for everyone that anyone can easily access and utilize, and people-centered inclusive AI." This philosophy mirrors discussions in American tech policy circles about ensuring AI benefits reach all segments of society, not just Silicon Valley elites. For American readers, this approach is comparable to President Biden's emphasis on "AI for the people" in executive orders governing AI development and deployment.
Unprecedented Committee Structure and Leadership
The Lee administration has dramatically restructured the AI strategy framework to enhance execution capabilities. The committee has been expanded from 45 to 50 members, with vice-chairmanships increased from one to three positions. This expansion reflects the Korean government's recognition that AI policy requires broader expertise and more robust organizational support than traditional technology initiatives.
President Lee personally chairs the committee, demonstrating the highest level of political commitment. The first standing vice-chairman is Lim Moon-young, former chairman of the Democratic Party's Digital Special Committee, while the other two vice-chairmen are the Minister of Science and ICT and the Minister of Economy and Finance. For American readers, this would be equivalent to having the President personally chair a committee with the Secretaries of Commerce and Treasury as deputies, showing the strategic importance placed on AI development.
The committee composition includes 13 government officials, 34 private sector experts, and 2 presidential office representatives. The emphasis on private sector participation (68% of the total) reflects Korea's recognition that AI innovation must be driven by industry expertise rather than bureaucratic mandates. Major Korean technology companies including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Naver, and Kakao have senior executives serving on the committee, alongside leading AI researchers from Seoul National University and KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology).
This public-private partnership model resembles the approach taken by the U.S. National AI Initiative, which similarly emphasizes collaboration between government agencies, private companies, and academic institutions. However, Korea's model places even greater emphasis on direct presidential oversight, reflecting the more centralized nature of Korean policymaking compared to the American federal system.
Three Strategic Pillars for AI Dominance
The committee unveiled its comprehensive "AI G3" (AI Global 3) strategy built on three foundational pillars designed to position Korea among the world's top three AI powers alongside the United States and China. This ambitious goal represents Korea's determination to avoid becoming a "second-tier" AI nation in an increasingly bipolar technological competition between America and China.
The first pillar, "AI Innovation Ecosystem Development," focuses on building the fundamental infrastructure necessary for AI leadership. This includes massive investments in AI computing centers, development of AI-specific semiconductors, and revolutionary changes to the education system to produce AI talent. For American readers, this is comparable to the CHIPS Act's semiconductor manufacturing investments, but with a broader focus on the entire AI technology stack rather than just hardware production.
Korea's approach recognizes that AI supremacy requires more than just government investment in large corporations. The strategy explicitly emphasizes creating opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups to participate in the AI ecosystem. This diversification strategy addresses concerns that Korean innovation has historically been dominated by chaebols (large conglomerates like Samsung and LG), potentially limiting entrepreneurial innovation.
The second pillar, "Nationwide AI-Based Transformation," envisions AI integration across all sectors of Korean society, from government services to private industry. The government plans to use AI as the core driver of digital government initiatives and pursue AI-driven service innovation in healthcare, education, transportation, and finance. This comprehensive approach goes beyond America's sector-specific AI initiatives, aiming for systematic transformation of the entire economy.
For American readers, this level of government-led AI integration might seem unusually ambitious. However, Korea's more centralized governance structure and history of successful government-directed economic development (such as the miracle of rapid industrialization in the 1960s-80s) provide a foundation for this comprehensive approach that might be more difficult to implement in America's decentralized federal system.
The third pillar, "Global AI Society Contribution," positions Korea as a responsible AI leader on the international stage. This includes active participation in developing international AI ethics and safety standards, supporting AI capacity building in developing countries, and contributing to global AI governance frameworks. This international leadership ambition reflects Korea's desire to move beyond being a "middle power" to becoming a genuine technology leader with global influence comparable to the United States.
Industry observers view this committee launch as a game-changing moment for Korea's AI competitiveness. The emphasis on SME and startup participation, rather than just chaebol-led development, is seen as crucial for success. However, skeptics question whether the ambitious "AI G3" goal represents achievable policy objectives or merely political rhetoric.
President Lee's characterization of AI as "national power and security capability" demonstrates Korea's understanding that artificial intelligence is not merely a commercial technology but a fundamental component of national strength in the 21st century. This strategic framework positions Korea to compete directly with American and Chinese AI initiatives, marking a new phase in global technological competition where traditional middle powers like Korea aspire to first-tier status.
The success or failure of this ambitious AI strategy will significantly impact Korea's global economic position and its role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence development worldwide.
Original Korean article: https://trendy.storydot.kr/people-lee-jaemyung-ai-strategy-sep08/
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