The South Korean government has unveiled a blueprint to invest 800 trillion won in the southwestern semiconductor cluster and 81 trillion won in advanced industries in the Chungcheong region. This initiative is commendable as a national strategy in preparation for the AI era. However, a crucial piece is still missing to complete the national industrial map: the role of North Jeolla and Honam.
Semiconductors serve as the brain of AI. Yet, transforming the world through AI cannot be achieved solely with semiconductors. The global industry is rapidly shifting towards a 'Physical AI' era, where AI directly operates factories, logistics, agriculture, construction, and automotive sectors. This shift is underscored by NVIDIA's significant investments in humanoid robots and autonomous factory platforms. Future competition will hinge not on how well AI is developed, but on how effectively it is applied in real-world industries.
So, where should South Korea establish its Physical AI hub?
I believe North Jeolla is the most suitable region.
North Jeolla boasts the vast Saemangeum industrial site, which is home to a manufacturing base and agricultural infrastructure, including automotive, agricultural machinery, and food industries. It offers rare conditions in South Korea for applying and validating AI in actual factories and agricultural settings. Unlike the overcrowded metropolitan area, there is ample space to design new industries from the ground up.
Agriculture, in particular, is poised to be the first sector to experience innovation through Physical AI. Autonomous agricultural machinery, AI harvesting robots, smart farms, drone pest control, and agricultural data platforms are likely to become the standard in the future. By linking North Jeolla's agricultural research institutions with Saemangeum, it is entirely feasible to establish a world-class AI agricultural cluster. If collaborative robots for manufacturing and logistics automation technologies are integrated, North Jeolla can position itself as a 'site where AI drives real industries.'
Incorporating renewable energy would further enhance competitiveness. AI data centers and robotic factories consume vast amounts of electricity. Offshore wind power from the West Sea and renewable energy from Saemangeum can provide the eco-friendly power base required for the Physical AI industry. If semiconductor production bases and Physical AI demonstration complexes are organically connected, a virtuous ecosystem for South Korea's AI industry can be established.
Currently, South Korea is pursuing an industrial policy centered on semiconductors. However, semiconductors are just the beginning. If semiconductors are the brain of AI, Physical AI will become the hands and feet of South Korean manufacturing. It is time to shift the focus from 'where to produce semiconductors' to 'where AI will drive real industries.'
The announcement of the 800 trillion won semiconductor strategy marks the moment to design that answer. North Jeolla should be developed as South Korea's first Physical AI demonstration city and a hub for the future manufacturing revolution. This approach not only promotes regional balanced development but also represents the most realistic strategy for South Korea to ascend as an AI powerhouse. North Jeolla must be redefined not as a target for development but as a strategic hub leading South Korea's future manufacturing revolution.
Ultimately, national balanced development should not remain at the level of merely distributing public institutions. Establishing the axis of future industries in regions is the true essence of balanced development. As North Jeolla grows into the capital of Physical AI, South Korea's AI competitiveness will also take a significant leap forward.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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