Trend Korea is falling behind in the AI and green industrial transitions

Summary

The government states that Korea succeeded in digital transformation but is lagging in the AI transformation and the green transformation now reshaping industry. It describes AI as emerging as core infrastructure across the economy, society and security. Korea is said to fall short on all three foundations of AI technology competitiveness, advanced talent and supporting infrastructure. On the green side, tightening trade barriers such as the EU carbon border adjustment and RE100 demands meet a slow energy transition, raising concerns about future export constraints. The government adds that renewable power is concentrated in certain regions, so a fast build-out of an energy highway is needed to supply advanced industries reliably.