"We Must Lead the Great AI Transformation in Everyday Life... I Hope Korea Becomes a Country That Uses and Builds AI Well" [AI World 2026]

[Financial News] "Artificial general intelligence (AGI) has now become a reality, and we have entered an era in which AI can sufficiently surpass humans."
Im Moon-young, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker and member of the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee, made the remarks at AI World 2026, jointly hosted by Financial News and the Ministry of Science and ICT at Lotte Cinema in Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 9th. He said, "As the entire world moves toward an AI competition, we have undergone truly tremendous changes over the past year since our government took office."■"AI talent is important, from regional areas to small businesses"Im emphasized the importance of talent capable of guiding the AI transition in the right direction. He said, "We talk about physical AI and humanoids in everyday life, but the reality is not easy. In particular, regional small businesses struggle to find even one young person with some AI expertise."
His assessment was that a significant gap exists between rapid technological advances and actual industrial sites. He also stressed that young AI talent must enter regional communities, small businesses, and the workplaces of small business owners. Im said, "Young people need to go to regional areas, to small business workplaces, and into the lives of small business owners." He added, "In the 1930s, our young people, as emerging intellectuals of the time, transformed rural villages that were filled with gambling, illiteracy, and prejudice against women."
He continued, "Young people must take the lead in the movement for a great AI transformation that reaches regional areas, small businesses, the lives of small business owners, and the lives of all citizens."
■"We must build a robust AI industrial ecosystem"In his welcoming remarks, Ryu Jemyoung, second vice minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, reiterated the government’s policy goal of "becoming a key country in an irreplaceable global AI supply chain."
Ryu began by saying, "When we first created the AI World event, I helped develop it while serving as director general of the Artificial Intelligence Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT. It is deeply meaningful to see the enthusiasm grow hotter each year." He emphasized, "The AI transformation is an unavoidable challenge for us, as well as a new opportunity for a leap forward that we must seize."
He said, "We will combine Korea’s strengths in manufacturing and semiconductors with AI and fully pursue three mega-projects centered on semiconductors, AI data centers, and physical AI, while building a robust industrial ecosystem extending from AI infrastructure to manufacturing sites." He added, "Going forward, we also plan to take on the challenge of developing top-tier frontier AI models capable of competing confidently with global leading companies."
Ryu said, "It is also extremely important for all citizens to learn AI as they learn Hangul and arithmetic, and to use AI as easily and without burden as a calculator." He added, "I hope Korea becomes a country that builds AI well and uses AI better than any other country in the world."
In his opening remarks, Financial News Vice Chairman Jeon Seon-ik emphasized, "We are standing at a time of sweeping transformation in which AI is changing not only the competitive landscape of industries but also a country’s economic structure and national security strategy." He added, "The new economy that AI will create is only just beginning." Jeon said, "Korea’s future competitiveness will vary greatly depending on which technologies we invest in now, which industries we develop, and which talent and institutions we prepare."Special Reporting Team