President Lee Jae Myung called for bold investment and swift execution of three mega projects focused on artificial intelligence and semiconductors on Tuesday [1].
These initiatives aim to secure South Korea's position in the global market during a period of rapid industrial transformation. By prioritizing infrastructure and speed, the administration seeks to prevent the country from falling behind in the AI-driven economic shift.
Speaking at an Industry Ministry policy briefing in Seoul, Lee said the nation is in a period of great industrial upheaval centered on AI. He said that the government and private sector must engage in a "speed war" to implement these strategies effectively [1].
The three mega projects target semiconductors, AI data centers, and physical AI [1]. Lee said that for these sectors to thrive, the government must ensure a stable supply of essential utilities, specifically electricity and water [1].
Reliable power and water are critical for the operation of high-capacity data centers and semiconductor fabrication plants. Without these foundational resources, the scale of the proposed AI expansion would be limited by infrastructure bottlenecks.
Lee said that bold investment is the only way to ensure the country remains competitive as other nations accelerate their own AI integration. The briefing highlighted the need for coordinated action between the public and private sectors to streamline the rollout of these technologies [1].
“President Lee Jae Myung called for bold investment and swift execution of three mega projects.”
This policy shift signals South Korea's recognition that AI leadership is no longer just about software, but about the physical infrastructure—power, water, and hardware—required to sustain it. By linking 'physical AI' and data centers to national security and economic competitiveness, the administration is prioritizing industrial scaling over incremental growth to counter regional competition.
