Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that better utilizing South Korea's strengths could make the nation a global leader rather than a follower in the rapidly evolving era of artificial intelligence (AI). Lee made the remarks while receiving briefings from the science ministry and other government agencies on the progress of their policy initiatives.

According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee highlighted the transformative potential of AI, likening it to monumental human advancements such as the discovery of fire or the invention of the steam locomotive and electricity. "The world is undergoing a civilization-level transformation driven by AI," he stated. "If we make the best use of our strengths and address our weaknesses, we could become a leading player rather than a follower," the president added, describing the AI era as "a decisive opportunity" for South Korea.

The remarks come as South Korea seeks to establish itself as a global AI powerhouse. Last month, the Lee administration announced three megaprojects involving major investments, totaling over 4,000 trillion won (US$2.68 trillion), in a semiconductor production cluster, physical AI, and AI data centers.