President Lee: "Without Korean semiconductor factories, the world's industries cannot function... It will become a proud homeland"
At a luncheon meeting with overseas Koreans in San Francisco, he said, "A truly new opportunity has come to Korea," and "Korea will become a leader ahead of other countries."
President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung perform the national anthem at a luncheon meeting with overseas Koreans held at a hotel in San Francisco, USA, on the 25th (local time). San Francisco = Newsis
President Lee Jae-myung, who is visiting the United States, said on the 25th (local time), "A new era called the AI era is opening," and "A truly new opportunity has come to the Republic of Korea."
President Lee said at a luncheon meeting with overseas Koreans held at a hotel in downtown San Francisco, "Just as humanity discovered a new fire and a new history began, a time will come when we cannot live without artificial intelligence."
He emphasized, "My goal is to make Korea an irreplaceable country," and "I want to ensure that people think, 'Without Korea, nothing can be done.'" He added, "Until now, we have used a strategy of learning from other countries and catching up, but from now on, I want to make Korea a leader that is half a step ahead."
President Lee said that he personally feels the greatly changed status of Korea when meeting with leaders of other countries. He said, "Developed countries want to build semiconductor factories in their own countries, middle-income countries ask for air defense systems like missile defense, and many leaders talk about K-pop." He also said, "In the past, thinking of Korea brought to mind scenes of children who lost their parents wandering the streets during the war, but now, without Korea's semiconductor factories, the world's industries cannot function. It has completely changed the impression of Korea."
President Lee added, "I think we can start anew. What I hear from people I meet abroad is similar: they want the homeland to become a source of pride. Now it must become so."
Kim Han-il, president of the San Francisco Korean Association, said, "The vision of Dosan Ahn Chang-ho began in San Francisco 123 years ago," and expressed his welcome, saying, "It is an honor to have the President in San Francisco, where history and the future converge." He added, "The President's vision of making Korea a country that the world wants, in areas like artificial intelligence, advanced industries, and energy, gives great pride and hope to overseas Koreans. We will join together."
Kim Ji-hyun, branch chief of the Silicon Valley chapter of the Korean-American Scientists and Technologists Association (KSEA), suggested, "Scientists and engineers hesitate to return to Korea due to differences in research funding scale, long-term research support, and startup and investment environments. Please expand stable research projects and support systems that allow for challenges from a long-term perspective."
