Is Korea ready for AI revolution — or is it falling behind?

Once a leader in the industry of memory chips, Samsung is now playing catch-up in the competitive field of AI-powered semiconductors. Meanwhile, top experts in Korea are leaving for better pay and opportunities abroad. In response, the Korean government is rolling out policies to keep AI researchers at home and attract global experts. But is it enough? In the race for AI dominance, does Korea have what it takes to stay ahead — or is it at risk of falling behind? Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong recently warned executives that the company is facing an existential crisis in regard to AI. While Samsung remains a global dominant player in memory chips, it lags behind SK hynix in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for AI models like ChatGPT. Meanwhile, Samsung’s smartphone, TV and DRAM market shares have declined, raising the stakes for its AI ambitions. If Samsung doesn’t catch up in AI, it risks falling behind not just in semiconductors, but in the broader tech landscape. A Korean AI researcher currently working in the U.S., who preferred to stay ano