Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet Japanese internet giant SoftBank Group's founder and CEO Masayoshi Son later this week to discuss cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and infrastructure investment, Lee's office said Thursday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting, slated for Friday, comes as Lee has pledged to ramp up support for the AI industry as part of his goal to make South Korea one of the world's top three AI powerhouses. The discussions are expected to focus on key sectors that are crucial for South Korea's technological advancement and economic growth.

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-bum, Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will attend the meeting, according to the presidential office. This high-level engagement underscores the importance of the collaboration and the strategic interests involved.

SoftBank has been making large-scale investments in the AI sector, including in the joint "Stargate" project to build new AI data centers together with OpenAI and Oracle Corp. This partnership could open avenues for South Korea to leverage SoftBank's expertise and resources in the field of AI.

Since taking office in June, Lee has stepped up efforts to attract investment, holding a series of meetings with global tech leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. These engagements highlight Lee's proactive approach in positioning South Korea at the forefront of technological innovation and investment.