Ha Jungwoo Shares Thoughts on Joining the Presidential Office
"Faced Practical Concerns Like Salary and Stock Options at First"
"Chose the Value I Could Create as Chief of AI"
Ha Jungwoo, Chief of AI Future Planning at the Presidential Office, described President Lee Jaemyung as a "'Ddokbu' (smart and diligent) type of boss," but also remarked, "If you have a 'Ddokbu' as your boss, it can be tough for those working under them." On the 20th, an interview with Chief Ha was released on the KTV National Broadcasting YouTube channel under the title "Jamp's Advisors." Since the 13th, starting with Chief of Political Affairs Woo Sangho, the Presidential Office has been serializing the daily lives of President Lee's aides.
Jungwoo Ha, Chief of AI Future Planning, is speaking about President Jaemyung Lee. KTV National Broadcasting YouTube
When asked how he felt upon being offered the chief position, Ha confessed, "I held my head in my hands and thought, 'What should I do?'" He added, "I couldn't help but worry about practical matters like the salary and stock options I received in the private sector." However, he continued, "I thought about whether my son, who is now in third grade, would grow up in a country of opportunity or not." He explained, "When I compared my compensation and the value of my stocks to the total value I could create as the nation's AI chief, the scales tipped. I chose the much heavier side." He went on to say, "Now that I'm here, it's much more meaningful and much more enjoyable."
Ha Jungwoo, Chief of AI Future Planning at the Presidential Office, is speaking at the town hall meeting "Listening to the Heart of Busan," held at Pukyong National University in Busan on the 25th of last month, attended by President Lee Jae-myung. Photo by Yonhap News
At the Busan town hall meeting on the 25th of last month, President Lee mentioned Chief Ha, saying, "When you work, there are organizations where people only do what they're told, and others where people work hard even without being told. When I said I was going to Busan, Chief Ha suddenly came to me yesterday with documents, saying, 'We need to prepare this as well.'" This drew public attention. Regarding being called the so-called "chief who assigns tasks," Ha said, "The President has instructed us to keep identifying new agendas ourselves, to make sure they can be implemented and that we feel a sense of accomplishment." He added, "From that perspective, I will actively identify new agendas."
Ha also said of President Lee, "Among all the bosses I've worked with, he's the one I most want to work with," adding, "You can learn so much and grow on your own." However, he joked, "If you have a 'Ddokbu' (a smart and diligent boss) as your superior, it can wear you out. It's extremely tough. In the past, if you complained to your boss, they might give you a raise, but now, even that isn't possible."
Regarding his aspirations as Chief of AI Future Planning, Ha said, "When I was in the private sector, I often said that a national AI strategy is absolutely crucial. Now, I've been given the chance to actually do it." He continued, "The next five years at most, or three years at the least, are critical. During this time, Korea must become globally competitive and rank among the top three in the world." He added, "I want AI to be so seamlessly integrated that people don't even realize they're using it, and for 'AI' to become synonymous with 'Korea' in the minds of people worldwide."
Born in 1977, Ha is known as the youngest among the chief-level aides at the Presidential Office. As the head of Naver's AI Innovation Center, he oversaw the company's large language model (LLM) 'HyperCLOVA X.' He has also been a leading advocate for 'Sovereign AI,' which emphasizes AI sovereignty.
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