Minister Kim Jung-gwan of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy has diagnosed that it is difficult to expect overall economic growth and recovery in Korea based solely on the semiconductor industry boom.

He presented artificial intelligence (AI), regional investment, and industrial ecosystem building as new growth engines, emphasizing the need for a shift in industrial strategy to prepare for the era of global competition.

▲ "Semiconductor boom is not necessarily economic boom"

Minister Kim Jung-gwan stated at a policy lecture at the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jeju Forum held in Jeju on the 16th, "Just because the semiconductor industry is booming does not mean the entire society is booming."

He said, "Most companies excluding semiconductors are in very difficult situations," and diagnosed that "although it appears that our entire business sector is thriving, the actual situation is not like that at all."

▲ "Semiconductors also cannot guarantee permanent prosperity"

Minister Kim warned that the current semiconductor industry also cannot guarantee long-term prosperity.

He stated, "While some evaluate the semiconductor industry as being in a structurally prosperous phase, history teaches us that no industry has permanent business," emphasizing the need to remain vigilant about changes in the industrial environment.

He continued, "This is a time when the landscape of industry is being greatly shaken," and warned that "if we fail to properly respond to these changes, companies, industries, and even nations that have maintained competitiveness so far can lose that competitiveness in an instant."

▲ AI, Regional Development, Ecosystem: Three Strategic Pillars for Economic Recovery

Minister Kim presented artificial intelligence (AI), regional development, and ecosystem as core strategies for achieving new growth for the Korean economy.

He emphasized, "If AI is the core platform opening a new era, then regions are the space to accommodate the AI era," adding that "if we cannot revitalize the regions, there is no future for our economy either."

He stressed that sustainable growth foundations can be established only by simultaneously promoting AI industry development and balanced regional development.

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▲ "Regional investment is a choice for the future"

Minister Kim explained the necessity of regional investment by comparing the capital region and regions to mature trees and saplings, respectively.

He said, "A mature tree shows little change even if not watered for a day, but a sapling dries up quickly," and stated that "to build national competitiveness in the long term, more preparation and investment in regions are needed."

He also noted that "the decision to invest in regions instead of the capital region is a very bold political move," but pointed out that "investing only in the capital region as a mature tree has limitations in achieving economic recovery."

▲ "In the AI era, no company can succeed alone"

Minister Kim emphasized that in the AI era, inter-company collaboration and the building of an industrial ecosystem involving the government and local governments are more important than ever.

He stated, "In the AI era, there are hardly any companies that can succeed alone," and said that "partnerships, joint research and development, and cooperation between the government and local governments must all take place together."

He added, "This ecosystem will ultimately become the core factor determining competitiveness in the AI era."

▲ Promoting manufacturing AI transition policy

Minister Kim also introduced the manufacturing artificial intelligence transition policy (M.AX) being pursued by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy.

He said, "Although Korea did not directly create the internet, it is one of the countries that utilizes it best in the world," and explained that "while the United States and China lead in AI technology, Korea has the advantage of being able to utilize it most effectively with abundant manufacturing data."

This was interpreted to mean that Korea, with its solid manufacturing base, can secure sufficient competitiveness in the AI utilization competition.

▲ Integration of generations and regions is key to AI ecosystem

Minister Kim emphasized that integration between generations and regions is also an important task in building an AI ecosystem.

He stated, "The younger generation is both the generation that can best utilize AI and the generation that is most concerned about job losses," and said that "the older generation must actively support young people so they can grow together within the ecosystem."

He also pointed out, "If we cannot resolve conflicts between classes and regional conflicts, a healthy AI ecosystem cannot be created either."

▲ "The ultimate competition arena is the global market"

Minister Kim emphasized that while AI, regional development, and ecosystem are important growth strategies, the ultimate competitive stage is the global market.

He stated, "The government will actively support companies in actively adopting AI, investing in regions, building industrial ecosystems, and advancing into the world market."

He also expressed the government's commitment to expanding policy support for strengthening industrial competitiveness and advancing into the global market.