In the late 19th century, submarine cables connected continents across the oceans, marking a monumental information revolution for humanity. However, this revolution was underpinned by a history of monopoly and dependency.
At that time, telegraphy was cutting-edge technology, but it could not cross continents due to the absence of submarine cables that could withstand seawater. The United Kingdom solved this problem by developing a corrosion-resistant insulating material called gutta-percha, monopolizing over 80% of the submarine cable market. Subsequently, the UK implemented the 'All Red Route' policy, establishing a global submarine telegraph network that only passed through its colonies to efficiently control and manage them.
This allowed Britain to control all major communication traffic on Earth. By dominating the global information network through communication, Britain exercised its influence by blocking communications from countries that opposed its interests. Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, Britain severed Germany's key submarine cables connecting it to the Americas and Africa, ensuring that only it had access to information. This history also relates to Korea, as Britain illegally occupied Geomundo to counter Russian expansion and established a submarine telegraph base there, creating a communication network connecting Geomundo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai to monopolize information in East Asia.
When technology is monopolized by specific countries or a few companies, those who use it become more than mere consumers; they risk becoming 'technological colonies.' Now, a century later, the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution stands at a crossroads of new technological dependency. The fact that 80% of South Koreans use foreign AI technologies is a concerning reality.
From the user's perspective, seeking the most advanced AI models is a rational choice. In an environment of fierce competition, it is impossible to survive without leveraging tools from global tech giants like ChatGPT or Gemini. Samsung Electronics has announced it will utilize OpenAI's technology across all its operations, while Naver, which possesses its own AI capabilities, is compelled to adopt foreign AI technologies in a dual-track approach to diversify its services and integrate into the global ecosystem.
However, the 'bill of dependency' is severe. Nearly 80% of adults aged 19 to 69 have experienced generative AI, with many relying entirely on specific foreign models, indicating a structure close to dependency. Building the backbone of our industry on the systems of global tech giants through AI transformation (AX) will only deepen this dependency.
Recently, the U.S. government imposed export controls to block foreign nationals from accessing Anthropic's high-performance security AI model for security reasons. Each time foreign AI experiences temporary server outages, changes in service policies, or export controls based on national preference, daily life and workplaces in South Korea are disrupted.
The minimum survival condition to break free from this massive technological dominance is to establish an AI ecosystem centered around 'sovereign AI.' Sovereign AI is not merely about asserting 'national pride in domestic technology'; it is the only bulwark that can guarantee national security and business continuity.
AI is not just a tool; it is a strategic asset tied to the future survival of the nation. If we fail to build our own technological base against the onslaught of global capital and technological power, South Korea risks becoming a significant dependency in the digital age. Technological sovereignty is synonymous with national sovereignty.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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