South Korea’s top business lobbies have emphasized the urgent need for the country to enhance its global competitiveness in artificial intelligence (AI) by making significant investments in 2026. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman, Chey Tae-won, stressed the importance of swiftly pursuing major investment projects to achieve competitiveness in AI and green transformation sectors. This move is seen as vital due to South Korea’s current challenges, such as slow growth and global geopolitical uncertainties.
Chey, who also leads SK Group, has been advocating for reforms in local fair trade laws to facilitate chipmakers in raising funds for substantial investment initiatives. He highlighted the necessity of enhancing policy predictability to enable businesses to invest and innovate without unnecessary obstacles. Additionally, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) Chairman, Ryu Jin, emphasized the significance of enhancing public-private collaboration in the AI domain to drive economic growth and competitiveness.
Yoon Jin-sik, the head of the Korea International Trade Association, predicted ongoing global economic uncertainties in 2026. He pledged to support South Korean companies in expanding overseas by advancing AI-based export support infrastructure. These efforts aim to bolster the country’s position in the global market amidst evolving economic challenges.
