Choi Taewon of SK Group: "We Will Develop Sovereign AI to Win the Global Race"

Choi Taewon Stresses the Need for "Sovereign AI" to Win the Global AI Race
Highlights Importance of Independent Korean AI Amid Intensifying Global Competition

Choi Taewon, Chairman of SK Group, emphasized the importance of developing a 'sovereign AI' to win the global AI race.

Choi Taewon, Chairman of SK, is attending the 'Icheon Forum 2025' held on the 18th at Walkerhill Hotel in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. From the left in the photo: Choi Taewon, Chairman of SK; Kim Sunhee, Chairperson of the Board of SK Inc.; Choi Jaewon, Senior Vice Chairman of SK; Kim Yonghak, Chairperson of the Board of SK Telecom. SK
Photo by SK

On the morning of August 18, at the 'Icheon Forum 2025' held at Grand Walkerhill in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Chairman Choi met with reporters and stated, "There are many choices and crossroads, but one thing we must be clear about is that sovereign AI is not something that can be developed solely within Korea," adding, "This is a global war." He continued, "We must create a sovereign AI that can enable us to win in the global competition."

Sovereign AI refers to an artificial intelligence system that can be operated and controlled independently within a country. Choi stressed that as the global competition for AI dominance intensifies, Korea needs its own independent AI to survive in the AI race.

Chairman Choi also remarked that he was particularly struck by the discussion on the policies of the Trump administration in the United States and China's response to them, which was addressed in the first session of the day, titled "Reorganization of the International Order Led by the United States: Seeking Solutions for Korean Companies."

He said, "What stood out to me was the point that while Trump’s policies are predictable from a strategic perspective, they are highly unpredictable from a tactical perspective." In this session, Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Jing Qian, Director of the China Analysis Center at the Asia Society Policy Institute, participated online as keynote speakers.

Meanwhile, SK Group is hosting the 'Icheon Forum 2025' for three days from August 18 to 20. The forum was attended by around 250 participants, including Chairman Choi Taewon, Senior Vice Chairman Choi Jaewon, Chairman Choi Changwon of the SUPEX Council, major executives from SK affiliates, as well as experts from academia and industry. Leaders from various sectors in the AI field, representatives from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, and the Foundation for Advanced Education also participated, enriching the depth of the discussions. In addition, there will be group discussion sessions aimed at enhancing the practical implementation of SKMS, SK Group’s unique management philosophy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.