Baek Seoin
Assistant Professor, College of Global Culture and Commerce, Hanyang University
As the global AI ecosystem becomes increasingly decoupled, countries are paying growing attention to the issue of “AI sovereignty.” China and the United States occupy the first tier of AI technology, with a significant gap separating them from second-tier nations. Taking South Korea as an example, middle powers possess partial advantages such as chip manufacturing and platform innovation, yet face multiple governance dilemmas — for instance, balancing domestic innovation with international cooperation, pursuing autonomy without sacrificing inclusivity, and advancing technological innovation while safeguarding employment. In response, South Korea is working to build full-stack AI supply capabilities, promote fair, balanced, and inclusive AI innovation, and extend its model to the Global South. Global AI governance urgently requires unified standards to ensure safety, transparency, and cross-border interoperability.
