[Minute to Read] South Korea to invest $735 bn in sovereign AI trained on Korean language and data

The Minute to Read (Weekdays) series provides a quick overview of significant events in Korea everyday, conveniently condensed into a one-minute read. Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday: June 17.

South Korea to invest $735 bn in sovereign AI trained on Korean language and data

South Korea is ramping up its artificial intelligence ambitions with a bold, wartime-style strategy that includes appointing Naver executive Ha Jung-woo as its first chief secretary for AI policy and unveiling plans with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build the country’s largest AI data center in Ulsan. Backed by President Lee Jae-myung’s pledge to invest 100 trillion won ($735 billion), the initiative centers on developing a “sovereign AI” system trained on Korean cultural and historical data. Ha, a leading proponent of the concept, advocates a public-private model in which the government supports infrastructure and AI outcomes are shared as open-source tools. While the plan signals a push to position South Korea among the world’s top three AI powers, experts note that specifics on funding and sector prioritization—particularly in strategic industries like semiconductors and biotech—remain unclear.

KOSPI surges, but Samsung Electronics underperforms amid AI concerns

South Korea’s stock market continues its strong rally, with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closing at 2,946.66 on Jun. 16—just shy of the 3,000 mark—despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The benchmark has risen for eight straight sessions and posted a 12.17% gain over the past month, the highest among G20 countries. However, retail investors heavily exposed to Samsung Electronics are missing out, as the company’s stock has only risen 7.5% this year and remains stuck in a narrow trading range. Its market cap weight in the KOSPI has dropped to a nine-year low, while foreign investors are flocking to SK Hynix, which has surged on strength in AI-related memory chips. Experts cite Samsung’s lag in high-bandwidth memory and AI technologies as key concerns. Meanwhile, daily trading volume is nearing historic highs, signaling renewed retail investor momentum under the new administration’s economic policies.

‘Our Unwritten Seoul’ delivers global comfort with its quietly powerful twin narrative

Our Unwritten Seoul, a weekend drama starring Park Bo-young, is resonating deeply with domestic and international audiences through its emotional storytelling and nuanced portrayal of healing. Since its May 24 debut on tvN and Netflix, the series has climbed Netflix’s global rankings and generated widespread online engagement, particularly for lines like “Everything you do to survive is an act of courage.” The story follows identical twin sisters who switch lives and begin to confront inner wounds, with Park portraying four distinct personas. Characters like Lee Ho-su, a top lawyer with hidden trauma, and Han Se-jin, a former CEO seeking redemption on a strawberry farm, each reflect themes of vulnerability and self-worth. The drama’s unique mirror-therapy structure, as noted by critic Gong Hee-jung, allows for profound self-reflection, setting it apart from typical coming-of-age series. Supporting roles, including the twins’ wise grandmother, add layers of comfort and generational insight, contributing to the drama’s widespread acclaim.

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