Im Jeong-hwan, CEO of Motif Technologies, delivered a keynote speech on September 2 at the '2026 GGGF' hosted by Aju Economic Daily, discussing the theme 'Introducing K-AI Future Vision Amid US-China Competition.' He stated, "To avoid falling behind in the AI competition with the U.S. and China, Korea must shift the competitive landscape to areas where it has strengths." He emphasized that Korea's AI competitiveness lies in combining specific technologies and industries, urging a focus on high-difficulty processes, learning efficiency in limited computing, and specialized industrial AI.
As the U.S. and China emerge as the two global powerhouses in the AI supremacy race, Im argued that Korea should concentrate on identifying its competitive areas. He noted that Korea lacks the scale to compete with the U.S. and China across all sectors, with private AI investments in Korea reaching approximately $3.1 billion in 2024, ranking sixth globally but only 3% of the U.S. level. The gap in computing resources is also significant, with Korea at just 1% of the U.S. capacity.
Im remarked, "While it is challenging to compete directly with the U.S. and China in terms of computing scale or capital, there is potential for Korea to excel in AI specialized for certain industries." He pointed out that the issue for Korean AI is not a lack of technology but rather the insufficient structure to convert strengths into AI value.
He highlighted that Korea's advanced manufacturing technology is a key asset in the AI competition. Im stated, "Korea ranks among the top in semiconductors and memory, and the speed of AI adoption in industrial settings is rapid. However, it is relatively weak in foundational models, computing infrastructure, and talent acquisition." He suggested that Korea should focus on learning efficiency instead of total computing competition, on intelligent high-difficulty processes and equipment rather than manufacturing volume, and on industrial and specialized AI products instead of general consumer platforms.
He added, "The key is to secure a few core competencies and then build an ecosystem where thousands of companies can create services and products on top of that foundation."
Im explained that the most practical approach is to integrate AI with existing manufacturing sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles, batteries, and biotechnology. He noted that when AI goes beyond simple automation to engage in design, production, quality control, logistics, and decision-making, it can significantly enhance industrial competitiveness.
He proposed three AI strategies for Korea: BUILD, CONNECT, and SCALE. He stated, "We need to develop core technologies like AI foundational models and computing, and connect these AI capabilities to the core infrastructure of Korea's major manufacturing sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles, and batteries." He also emphasized the importance of designing products and services with a global market in mind from the outset.
Finally, he asserted, "If AI's role in automobiles, robotics, smart factories, and semiconductor equipment evolves from simple judgment to intelligent actions, we can leverage Korea's strengths in hardware and manufacturing capabilities. Rather than pursuing a catch-up strategy to match U.S. and Chinese AI strategies, Korea should accurately identify its strong areas and build unique competitiveness within those domains."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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