Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT: "We Can Lead the World in AI Semiconductors"

Minister of Science and ICT nominee Lee Jong-ho is attending the press conference announcing the appointment of eight ministerial candidates of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration at the Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 10th, answering reporters' questions. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] "AI semiconductors have great growth potential in the future, and this is a field where we can sufficiently lead the global market."

On the 24th at 2 p.m., Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT (photo), stated this during an on-site meeting with AI semiconductor companies and related experts at PuriosaAI in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Minister Lee visited PuriosaAI, an AI semiconductor design specialized company (fabless), as his first field visit since taking office.

The reason Minister Lee chose an AI semiconductor company for his first field visit reflects the determination to nurture AI semiconductors as the next-generation growth engine of Korea's semiconductor industry by securing ultra-gap AI semiconductor technology and expanding the industry. This comes at a time when semiconductors have become a core element affecting not only their own importance but also the competitiveness of all industries and national security, and following the agreement at the Korea-US summit to strengthen cooperation on advanced technologies such as semiconductors.

Minister Lee Jong-ho emphasized, "For Korea to become a world-leading semiconductor powerhouse, we must continue to strengthen global leadership in memory semiconductors while also building competitiveness in the system semiconductor sector, where we have been lacking." He added, "By combining memory semiconductor technology and know-how and expanding workforce training, we can also enhance competitiveness in the system semiconductor field." He continued, "The government will fully support AI semiconductor technological innovation and industrial growth," and said, "Reflecting industry opinions, we plan to announce the 'AI Semiconductor Industry Growth Support Measures' next month."

At the meeting, Baek Jun-ho, CEO of PuriosaAI, gave a presentation on creating successful cases of domestic AI semiconductors. CEO Baek requested continuous government interest and investment in chip production by universities and AI semiconductor startups, and suggested the need for government-level AI semiconductor testbed infrastructure to develop the overall AI ecosystem, including AI semiconductors.

The comprehensive discussion was attended by 11 participants, including AI semiconductor development companies and research experts, where they discussed policy proposals to promote the adoption of domestic AI semiconductors, as well as difficulties faced by companies and researchers and requests for government support.

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to strengthen industry-academia-research cooperation in the AI semiconductor field through this field visit to create a virtuous cycle ecosystem of technology development, advanced workforce training, and industrial growth. Furthermore, the ministry will prepare measures to support private sector growth and development through various industrial and research field visits in strategic technology areas such as AI, 5G, space, quantum, and bio, not limited to AI semiconductors.