President Lee Jae-myung announced the ‘San Francisco AI Declaration’ on Saturday to outline South Korea’s artificial intelligence industry vision and invite global investment [1].

The move signals South Korea's ambition to transition from a hardware-centric IT power to a global leader in AI software and ecosystems. By anchoring the announcement in San Francisco, the administration seeks to deepen strategic cooperation with the U.S. tech sector and attract high-capital venture investment [1, 2].

Lee delivered the address to a group of eight AI company leaders [2]. During the speech, he said South Korea is a primary stage for international investment, emphasizing the nation's readiness to integrate into the global AI landscape [1, 2].

"I wish to share with the world the vision of a new AI era that the Republic of Korea dreams of, here in San Francisco, the heart of global innovation," Lee said [1].

Lee drew a parallel between the recovery of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake [1] and South Korea's rise from the poverty following the Korean War. He said the two entities share a history of overcoming devastation through resilience and a commitment to technological advancement [1].

The declaration focuses on creating a sustainable AI ecosystem that fosters innovation while maintaining stability. Lee said that the Republic of Korea has already established itself as an IT powerhouse and is now prepared to expand that influence into the AI domain [1].

The event served as a diplomatic and economic bridge, utilizing the proximity to Silicon Valley to engage directly with the architects of current AI trends [2]. By inviting global innovators to view South Korea as a viable investment hub, the president said he aims to accelerate the domestic adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies [1, 2].

“I wish to share with the world the vision of a new AI era that the Republic of Korea dreams of”

This declaration represents a strategic pivot for South Korea, attempting to leverage its existing semiconductor and hardware dominance to capture a larger share of the AI software market. By aligning its national vision with the innovation hub of San Francisco, the administration is attempting to secure the foreign capital and technical partnerships necessary to compete with the U.S. and China in the global AI race.