Online Webinar and YouTube Event... Mayor Lee Yong-seop Expects Practical Measures for Job Creation and Startups

On the afternoon of the 4th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, attended the '2nd Korea AI Cluster Forum' held at the 3D Convergence Commercialization Support Center within Gwangju Technopark. He took a commemorative photo with Kim Yong-jip, Chairman of the Gwangju City Council, Moon Seung-hyun, Chairman of the Korea AI Cluster Forum, and domestic and international industry, academia, and research officials who participated online. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The 2nd Korea AI Cluster Forum, hosted by Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Korea AI Cluster Forum and organized by the Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency, was held online on the afternoon of the 4th via webinar and YouTube.

The forum proceeded with welcome speeches by Moon Seung-hyun, chairman of the Korea AI Cluster Forum and professor at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, and Mayor Lee Yong-seop, followed by congratulatory remarks from Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT, a keynote speech, thematic presentations, and discussions.

Due to the severe COVID-19 situation, only about 50 people attended in person at the 3D Convergence Commercialization Support Center within Gwangju Technopark, while over 1,000 domestic and international industry, academia, and research stakeholders participated online. Under the theme “Startup Innovation City Created by the Digital New Deal, the Future of Gwangju,” the forum explored ways to link and utilize Korea’s artificial intelligence with regional key industries and presented future policy directions through keynote speeches and thematic presentations, followed by lively discussions.

The online event was broadcast live from the virtual event hall of the Gwangju Technopark 3D Convergence Commercialization Support Center, which is equipped with top-level virtual production filming capabilities in Korea. Utilizing Gwangju’s cultural convergence content and AI technology, the event was conducted as a vivid 100% untact live broadcast.

Notably, the opening ceremony featured a performance by an AI composer and a human violinist, where the famous violinist Park Ji-hye collaborated to perform a piece instantly composed by AI, showcasing a new attempt at coexistence between AI technology and humans in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

The overseas keynote speech was delivered by Stephan Kuester, Head of International Consulting at Startup Genome and Tech Nation in London, UK. He spoke on “Conditions to Become an Attractive AI Cluster,” explaining the core elements for creating an AI innovation ecosystem and presenting ways to utilize AI more broadly.

The domestic keynote speech was given by Professor Lee Kyung-jeon of the Department of Big Data Applications, College of Business, Kyung Hee University. Under the theme “AI Technology and Business Trends, and the Future of Gwangju,” he introduced recent AI technology development trends such as GPT-3, the establishment of business models by Korean AI companies, and global expansion trends, proposing strategies for the Gwangju AI cluster.

In the specialized sessions, Kim Jong-won, director of the GIST AI Research Institute, presented “The Future of AI Business Envisioned by Gwangju”; Lee Han-bin, CEO of Seoul Robotics, spoke on “LiDAR, Radar, and Tesla’s Impact on Future Cars”; Kim Dong-min, CEO of JLK Inc., discussed “The Present and Future of Medical AI”; and Lim Ji-seop, CEO of Crocus Energy, introduced “AI-based Next-generation Energy Platforms.” Each session addressed changes and new prospects in their respective industries and proposed cooperation methods for creating an AI industrial convergence ecosystem.

The panel discussion included experts such as Professor Song Se-kyung of KAIST, Adjunct Professor Park Jung-il of Hanyang University’s Department of Computer Software, Research Fellow Hwang Jong-sung of the AI Future Strategy Center at the National Information Society Agency, CEO Jang Dong-in of AIBB LAB, and CEO Hwang Byung-seon of Big Bang Angels Co., Ltd. They discussed “The Role and Future of AI Clusters” and “The Future of AI Business Envisioned by Gwangju,” sharing various AI cluster construction cases through cooperation among industry, academia, and research experts, and deliberated strategies for Gwangju to grow into a global AI city.

Additionally, 24 online panelists participating in the forum used the Zoom video conferencing platform to conduct Q&A sessions between speakers and online participants, providing a meaningful opportunity to explore innovation directions for individuals and companies through AI technology.

Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “Gwangju Metropolitan City has always been at the forefront leading Korea’s transformation whenever we faced difficult situations,” adding, “I hope Gwangju will take bold challenges in the AI field to lead the creation of new industries and jobs to overcome the current COVID crisis.”

He continued, “I hope the forum will serve as a think tank presenting visions and diverse ideas for the success of the AI cluster,” and promised, “The Ministry of Science and ICT will actively communicate with Gwangju City and provide generous support, believing that the Gwangju AI cluster will be the cornerstone for Korea’s leap as a strong AI nation.”

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, “I expect that through in-depth discussions and debates by experts on the vision and role of the AI cluster, practical measures will be proposed for discovering Gwangju-type AI business models, job creation, and startups.”