South Korea Recasts Strategic Technology Priorities as US Tightens AI Model Export Controls
Summary
- South Korea said securing technology sovereignty has become more important as the US moves to control Anthropic’s latest artificial intelligence model and restrict exports.
- The government said it reclassified 513 technologies, including semiconductors, AI, advanced robotics, energy and biotech, into a framework of 55 strategic technologies across 10 sectors.
- It said key projects within those strategic technologies will be designated as National Strategic Technology Research and Development (R&D) projects, giving them priority consideration for R&D budget allocation and funding, along with eased corporate matching requirements.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
Government resets priorities for semiconductors, robotics and energy
Core projects to be reprioritized
“The US is controlling Anthropic’s latest artificial intelligence model and restricting exports. Our own technological capabilities are more important than ever,” Bae Kyung-hoon, deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, said on June 18 at the National Strategic Technology Leading NEXT Project event at Lotte Hotel in Seoul’s Sogong-dong.
His remarks reflect a view in Seoul that South Korea needs to secure technology sovereignty as AI models emerge as strategic national assets.
The event was arranged to discuss priorities for national strategic technologies. The government said core technologies including AI, semiconductors, advanced robotics, energy and biotech have become strategic assets that shape national security, supply chains and future growth, extending beyond the competitiveness of individual industries. Its overhaul of the national strategic technology framework is part of that effort to secure technological sovereignty.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said it reclassified 513 technologies scattered across four laws and regulations, including the National Strategic Technologies Promotion Act, into 19 common technology categories. It then reorganized them into a framework of 55 strategic technologies across 10 sectors. The move is intended to establish a strategic technology management system that can be used jointly across ministries.
The government plans to designate key projects in those 10 sectors as National Strategic Technology Research and Development projects around the end of this year. They will receive priority consideration for R&D budget allocation and funding, and corporate matching requirements will be eased.
“Technology is now national competitiveness,” Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun said. “This overhaul goes beyond simply drawing up a list. It sets a milestone for where the country should concentrate its capabilities.”
The government said it will go beyond selecting technologies and support commercial results by linking ministry projects with private-sector demand.
Lee Young-ae, Hankyung.com reporter 0ae@hankyung.com
Korea Economic Daily
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