South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in San Francisco to discuss expanding South Korea’s investment in artificial intelligence [1].
The meeting signals a strategic shift by Seoul to secure partnerships with leading AI firms to maintain a competitive edge in the global technology race.
President Lee arrived in the U.S. city via Air Force plane one [2]. Upon his arrival, the mayor of San Francisco welcomed the president with a gift. This visit serves as the first stop of a broader diplomatic tour that includes Germany and three South American countries [3].
During a one-on-one meeting with Amodei, Lee emphasized the scale of his administration's ambitions for the sector. "Our Republic of Korea intends to dramatically expand its investment in the field of artificial intelligence, so we look forward to the special interest, investment, and contribution of Anthropic," Lee said [1].
Amodei responded to the proposal, noting the importance of the South Korean government's focus on the technology. "I am very happy to cooperate with Korea in various fields. I am also pleased that the Korean government has prioritized the AI field," Amodei said [1].
The discussions focused on how leading AI firms can contribute to South Korea's technological infrastructure. Lee's push for "special interest" from Anthropic suggests a desire for more than just commercial licensing, potentially seeking deeper technical cooperation, or regional investment.
The president's itinerary continues beyond the U.S. as he seeks to strengthen ties across Europe and the Americas. The emphasis on AI in the first leg of the journey underscores the priority the administration has placed on digital transformation as a pillar of national growth.
“Our Republic of Korea intends to dramatically expand its investment in the field of artificial intelligence”
By targeting Anthropic specifically, South Korea is attempting to diversify its AI dependencies beyond the most dominant U.S. providers. This diplomatic push suggests that Seoul views AI investment not merely as a corporate venture, but as a critical component of national security and economic sovereignty in a rapidly evolving global market.
