SEOUL: The inaugural Future Economic Forum, hosted by Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's leading news service, commenced on Thursday with a focus on identifying new business and economic opportunities for the country in the rapidly evolving global technology sector. The forum is particularly significant as it coincides with the aftermath of the recent U.S. presidential election, which is expected to have substantial implications for the tech industry worldwide. According to Yonhap News Agency, the forum, themed "Post U.S. Presidential Election: Heated Race for High-tech Supremacy," aimed to address the current status and challenges of South Korea's advanced tech industry, with a spotlight on the semiconductor sector, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The event also delved into future trends in the high-tech industry globally, exploring solutions from diverse perspectives, including policy, technology, trade, and strategy, especially in light of anticipated shifts in U.S. policies with the second Dona ld Trump administration. Approximately 400 participants, including politicians, business leaders, and industry experts, gathered for the event, which is set to become an annual occurrence. Prominent figures such as Park Sung-taek, the first vice minister of trade, industry, and energy, were in attendance, and messages were shared by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee via video. Yonhap News President and CEO Hwang Dae-il underscored the significance of "technopolitics" in his opening remarks, highlighting the profound impact of advanced technology on the global economy and international relations. He emphasized that technological power now surpasses military power as the primary determinant of global leadership, suggesting that the U.S. election results could further fuel the race for high-tech supremacy. Hwang also articulated the forum's objective to provide a platform for business leaders and experts to strategize effectively within this competitive land scape. President Yoon Suk Yeol conveyed his support through a message delivered by Wang Yun-jong, the third deputy national security adviser, reaffirming the government's commitment to investing in top-tier technology development and infrastructure to bolster industrial competitiveness. Chris Miller of Tufts University, known for his book "Chip War," shared his insights on the potential new phase in the global semiconductor battle. Subsequent sessions included presentations from Kim Hyun-woo, vice president of Samsung Electronics, who discussed strategies from the world's top memory chip manufacturer, and Lin Hung-wen, a senior journalist from Taiwan's Business Today, who examined the ongoing competition in the chip industry, particularly around TSMC. The forum concluded with forward-looking perspectives from Professor Shin Chang-hwan of Korea University and Lee Moon-tae, leader of LG AI Research, outlining a strategic blueprint for the future of South Korea's high-tech industry.