"Is it like saying we shouldn't farm because Vietnam has rice?" Lee Jae-myung's 'AI Sharp Criticism'

[Financial News] "It's like saying there's a lot of (cheap) rice in Vietnam, so there's no need to farm in Korea."
President Lee Jae-myung criticized the opponents of Sovereign AI. He compared the idea that foreign AI, no matter how cheap and effective, could lead to dependency if the nation does not lead data sovereignty, to agricultural products.
President Lee attended the Ulsan AI Data Launch Ceremony on the 20th as his first local event after taking office and participated in the Global Cooperation Business Meeting to inspect the domestic AI industry and listen to the opinions of entrepreneurs. In his encouragement speech at the AI Data Center launch ceremony, President Lee declared, "We will build the highway of the AI era," and promised, "The government will provide generous support to companies and talents leading Korea's leap forward."
The keyword that emerged from the Global Cooperation Business Meeting was undoubtedly 'Sovereign AI'. It refers to an AI system that is independently operated by the nation without relying on foreign technology. At the meeting, Cho Joon-hee, Chairman of the Korea AI·SW Association, stated, "The development of Sovereign AI is urgent," prompting President Lee to speak. It was a remark recognizing the opponents of Sovereign AI.
He pointed out, "The argument that developing Sovereign AI is a waste because we have ChatGPT is like saying 'Let's not farm because there's a lot of rice in Vietnam,'" highlighting how dangerous such an idea is. He expressed a deep awareness of the importance of technological sovereignty, especially the risk of external dependence on core technologies like AI.
The meeting was attended by representatives from major corporations and startups such as SK, Kakao, Lunit, and FuriosaAI. SK Chairman Choi Tae-won suggested expanding the government's AI technology purchases and creating a dedicated fund for startups. In response, President Lee said, "That was a very important remark," and asked detailed questions about the budget size and policy measures.
After the meeting, President Lee toured the AI company booths and experienced the products firsthand. At the booth of domestic AI semiconductor startup Rebellion, he left a handwritten note saying, "AI highway to the world's top 3 powers!" When Park Sung-hyun, CEO of Rebellion, said, "In the distant future, I will at least throw a punch on the same stage as NVIDIA," President Lee laughed and said, "Let's do it in the near future." Min-hee Choi, Chairman of the Science, Technology, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, also emphasized, "It should not be the distant future, but the near future." Meanwhile, local issues in Ulsan were also discussed. When Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom explained the need for financial support from the local government, President Lee responded with a laugh, "You seem to want to make the most of this meeting."

ksh@fnnews.com Kim Seong-hwan Reporter