At summer WEF, Kim says S. Korea aims to be No. 1 in physical AI, top 3 globally in AI overall

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok attends the 2026 Summer Davos Forum at the Dalian International Convention Center in Liaoning Province, China, on Wednesday. [Prime Minister's Office]
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok attends the 2026 Summer Davos Forum at the Dalian International Convention Center in Liaoning Province, China, on Wednesday. [Prime Minister's Office]

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Wednesday that South Korea's ambition in physical AI is nothing short of becoming the world's top power in the field.

Speaking at a special address session of the Summer World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, Kim said South Korea's traditional manufacturing strengths position it well to excel in physical AI. "If we set a bold target for physical AI capabilities, I would like to aim for the No. 1 spot," he said in response to a moderator's question.

He also described South Korea as facing twin imperatives — an "AI transformation" and an "energy transformation" — driven by domestic and external conditions, and said the country's broader goal is to rank among the top three AI powers globally.

Asked how South Korea plans to address social inequality arising from the AI transition, Kim acknowledged that Korean chipmakers have posted far larger profits than in the past, raising a new question of how to distribute that wealth. "There is no definitive answer yet — it is something we are still working through," he said.

He went on to say that the vast new wealth generated by the AI transformation could potentially be linked to something like a basic income. "I am considering it as one idea," he said. He added that he sees it as a kind of policy obligation for South Korea to run such an experiment — connecting AI transition gains to basic income — and share the lessons, both pros and cons, with the international community.

In his address, Kim argued that AI cannot be built on algorithms alone. "It requires semiconductors, data centers, communications networks, power grids and other infrastructure, as well as AI applications and security systems," he said. "South Korea has particular strengths on all of those fronts."

He went on to say that the country possesses what he called "full-stack AI capabilities" — a world-class semiconductor industry, advanced manufacturing capacity, a stable high-quality power grid and ICT infrastructure, and a dynamic industrial ecosystem.

Kim pledged that South Korea would expand global cooperation for innovation and create an environment where companies, investors and researchers can grow together, contributing to human prosperity through AI.

"When your bold challenges are combined with South Korea's capabilities, large-scale innovation and large-scale prosperity will follow," he said.

He closed with a reference to the Korean phrase "seungpungnarang" — riding the wind and cutting through the waves — expressing his hope that humanity would face uncertainty without fear, seizing the currents of great change as an opportunity to forge ahead.


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com