Kim Yong-beom: "AI Era Requires a New Industrial Map... It Could Be Drawn in the Regions"

Kim Yong-beom, Chief of Staff for Policy at the Presidential Office, emphasized the need for new national infrastructure in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), stating, "We must lay the foundation for growth through bold, preemptive investments that will reshape South Korea's industrial map."

Speaking at a Kwanhun Club debate held at the Press Center in Seoul today (June 24), Kim said, "Just as the Gyeongbu Expressway was the beginning of industrialization and the high-speed information and communication network was the foundation for becoming an IT powerhouse, a new national infrastructure is needed for the AI era."

Kim emphasized, "If the current semiconductor and AI super-cycle marks the beginning of a structural transformation that will increase the slope of South Korea's potential growth path and the beginning of industrial restructuring, our response must also change."

He proposed, "We need a new method of national management that combines multi-year investments, pan-government projects, selection and concentration, and productive finance, which is different from the past."

He added, "Industries in the AI era require massive amounts of electricity, land, and a new industrial ecosystem. Data centers, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and future power grids align with the strengths of the regions," and noted, "A new industrial map can be drawn in the regions."

This is interpreted as being in line with the context that President Lee Jae-myung is reportedly set to announce a balanced development strategy on the 29th, centered on large-scale regional investments by the semiconductor industry.

Kim also said, "We need to look into how the fruits of growth in the AI era should be shared. Social discussions on social policy, labor policy, and the utilization of excess tax revenue are necessary."

He diagnosed the situation by saying, "AI can make a country wealthy, but there is no guarantee that all citizens will enjoy the benefits equally. This is the problem of 'K-shaped growth'," adding, "The lesson from the so-called 'Taiwan disease' lies here."

He also raised a topic for discussion, saying, "We need to rethink the role of finance in terms of interest in those located at the bottom of K-shaped growth," and added, "We must discuss whether the current system, which excludes those in desperate need in the name of the imperfect science of credit ratings, is appropriate, and whether there is a way to move toward 'connected finance' that can embrace them as well."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.