The Lee Jae-myung administration's vision for an 'AI Highway' is expected to gain traction with the establishment of a West Coast belt following the June 3 local elections.
On June 4, industry and political sources reported that candidates from the Democratic Party, who made AI industry development a key campaign promise, were elected in regions dense with AI infrastructure, including South Chungcheong, Daejeon, North Jeolla, and South Jeolla.
With the Democratic Party dominating the areas surrounding Seoul, analysts believe the groundwork for a nationwide AI expansion route, referred to as the 'AI Highway,' has been laid.
The Ministry of Science and ICT previously announced that it would exempt preliminary feasibility studies for AI innovation hub projects in four regions: Gwangju, Daegu, North Jeolla, and South Gyeongsang. The initiative aims to support the development of region-specific AI transformation (AX) models. Key projects include the Gwangju AX demonstration valley, Daegu's regional AX innovation technology development, North Jeolla's collaborative intelligence physical AI-based software platform ecosystem, and South Gyeongsang's human-AI collaborative LAM development and global demonstration project.
Among these, the North Jeolla and Gwangju (South Jeolla) hubs have gained new momentum with the election of mayors aligned with the government. Min Hyung-bae, elected as the first mayor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam integrated special city, pledged to create a new growth axis for South Korea by combining the energy industry of Jeonnam with Gwangju's strengths in AI, semiconductors, and mobility. In North Jeolla, Lee Won-taek was elected with a focus on linking the region to the government's AI innovation hubs.
The strategic position of South Chungcheong in the West Coast belt is noteworthy. Park Soo-hyun, elected governor of South Chungcheong, emphasized his commitment to aligning with government AI policies, making 'AI Capital Chungcheong' a central campaign promise. With semiconductor clusters and large-scale data center infrastructure, South Chungcheong is expected to play a pivotal role as a practical hub for the AI Highway.
In the metropolitan area, the foundation for AI policy alignment has also been established. Choo Mi-ae, elected governor of Gyeonggi Province, expressed her determination to foster the AI industry ecosystem in the region. Incheon Mayor-elect Park Chan-dae also campaigned on expanding AI infrastructure in the metropolitan area, indicating a collaborative framework with government AI policies outside of Seoul.
As a result, the Lee Jae-myung administration's AI Highway is likely to accelerate along the West Coast belt connecting Gyeonggi, Incheon, South Chungcheong, Daejeon, North Jeolla, and Gwangju.
With the election of opposition party leaders in Daegu and South Gyeongsang, the prioritization of policy alignment has emerged as a new variable among the four AI innovation hubs. In Daegu, Choo Kyung-ho has proposed fostering five future industries: AI, robotics, future mobility, bio, and semiconductors, making economic recovery a top priority. In South Gyeongsang, Governor Park Wan-soo emphasized economic growth and the revitalization of regional key industries.
Both leaders have made economic recovery their foremost agenda, prompting discussions on how to align with the current government's policies. In Seoul, Mayor Oh Se-hoon has successfully secured re-election and is expected to continue his independent AI city strategy.
Choi Byung-ho, a professor at Korea University’s Human-Inspired AI Research Institute, stated, "Considering energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure, the development of local AI industries will inevitably concentrate along the coastline. With all elected officials prioritizing economic recovery after this local election, it is crucial to determine the direction of that focus. If the emphasis is placed on employment, exports, and value creation through AI, local AI industries will gain strength."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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