Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday that the emergence of an artificial intelligence (AI) era offers a new opportunity for South Korea, vowing to turn the country from a follower into a global leader. The president made the remarks at a meeting with South Korean residents in San Francisco on the second day of his two-day visit aimed at promoting AI investment and cooperation between global tech giants and South Korea. According to Yonhap News Agency, the president emphasized that just as humanity's discovery of fire ushered in new history, a new era is coming in which AI will become indispensable. He highlighted the new AI era as a significant opportunity for South Korea, expressing his ambition to position the nation as an irreplaceable entity on the global stage, ensuring that other countries recognize that significant advancements cannot be achieved without South Korea's involvement. His remarks followed a series of agreements between U.S.-based tech giants, including Nvidia, OpenAI, and Anthro pic, and South Korean firms such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. These partnerships, which were announced during a high-level event attended by Lee, are expected to amount to US$950 billion. The president expressed a desire for South Korea to transition from its historical strategy of learning and following other countries to becoming a leader that remains a step ahead. Lee cited South Korea's democratization experience as a critical strength in leading the AI era, noting that democratic values such as reasonableness, objectivity, transparency, and predictability serve as essential elements for industrial and economic development. Lee also highlighted South Korea's transformation from a war-torn nation to an economic powerhouse, underscoring the indispensable role the country's semiconductor factories play in the global industry.
