Korea, a Technological Advanced Nation? Professor Lee Jeong-dong Says "Half a Glass of Water" [Tech War, Birth of Advanced Nations]

Interview with Professor Lee Jeong-dong, Author of 'The First Question'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] "If asked whether Korea is a technologically advanced country, I would answer that it is in a ‘half-full glass of water’ state. It is true that we have become a country with a (per capita gross national income) of $30,000, but we have only grown in size, not developed the corresponding constitution."

Lee Jung-dong, professor at Seoul National University College of Engineering and author of Accumulation of Time (2015), Path of Accumulation (2017), and The First Question (2022), responded with the metaphor of a ‘half-full glass of water’ when asked in an Asia Economy founding planning interview on the 13th whether Korea can be called a technologically advanced country. Professor Lee evaluated, "We have accumulated execution capabilities and an excellent manufacturing base as a result, but the seeds that raise challenging questions and open new fields that others have not yet attempted, as well as the scale-up foundation to nurture them, are not yet in place." Korea stands on the borderline of becoming a technologically advanced country and has just arrived at a ‘white space’ that no one has yet stepped on.

So, what are the conditions (qualifications) for being a technologically advanced country? Professor Lee defined it as "There must be many challenging questions to open new fields, and an environment where these challenging questions are continuously scaled up, that is, an environment where challenging trial and error can be accumulated and continuously improved." He added, "There must be an environment where talents who pose challenging questions can continuously grow, and a culture conducive to continuous improvement and growth," and said, "As a result, a true ‘technologically advanced country’ can be one that possesses many irreplaceable technologies and lynchpins (indispensable entities) of the global supply chain."

He judged that industrial ‘convergence’ is essential for Korea to produce competitive results in the process of transitioning from a (past) technology follower country to a leading country setting technology standards. Professor Lee said, "Korea has the capability to produce all major industrial sectors such as automobiles, shipbuilding, semiconductors, batteries, aviation, bio, petrochemicals, and electronics," and forecasted, "If data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are fully integrated into this industrial base and active convergence between industries and technologies occurs, there is great potential to create new industrial fields."

However, he diagnosed that current industry leaders, who rose to their leadership positions through successful benchmarking during the past catching-up phase, are weak in posing the next stage of challenging questions. Although the physical infrastructure at the national level is relatively well established compared to other countries, the institutional infrastructure is also very outdated. He pointed out, "Convergence inevitably means the readjustment of existing institutional networks between industries, but due to institutional rigidity, there are many obstacles to the birth of new industries," and criticized, "Government technology and industrial policies have not escaped the past paradigm."

He also advised, "Numerous scientists and technologists in the public sector and regulatory authorities must work together to accurately guide what parts need to be tested," and "Most regulatory improvements result in legal and institutional reforms, and since the ultimate authority lies with the National Assembly, it is urgent and essential to raise the technological sensitivity of the National Assembly."

Professor Lee believes that if Korea can change its paradigm toward posing the first challenging questions, it can become a technologically advanced country within 10 years. However, he warned that if the paradigm shift does not occur, Korea cannot avoid regression rather than maintenance. He expressed concern, saying, "China’s execution capabilities have already begun to surpass ours," and "If we only try to maintain existing industries without posing new questions, Korea’s position in the reorganizing value chain will disappear."

Meanwhile, regarding the background of writing The First Question, Professor Lee emphasized, "Accumulation should not be vague repetition but meaningful accumulation that opens new fields," and "Industry leaders must first pose the initial challenging questions so that organizational members can unite and endure trial and error." He added, "I hope government officials in charge of industrial and technology policies gain a new perspective on what leading policies are, not follower-type ones, especially regarding the role of the private sector and the unique roles of other governments or the state."

▶Professor Lee Jung-dong received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from Seoul National University College of Engineering and is currently a professor in the Department of Technology Management, Economics, and Policy at Seoul National University Graduate School of Engineering and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. He has been a full member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (since 2020) and the Korean Academy of Engineering (since 2018). He served as president of the Korean Productivity Society (2011) and the Korean Academy of Business Administration (2017). From 2019 to 2021, he also served as a special advisor on economic science to the Presidential Secretariat.