'AI, Climate, and Demographic Cliff' Approaching Simultaneously... KISTEP and KAIST Discuss National Strategy for 2050

"2050 Future Outlook Forecast & Strategy Forum" to be Held on May 21
Seeking Sustainable Transformation Solutions in the Era of Multiple Crises

A forum will be held to discuss Korea's national strategy for 2050 in preparation for the era of 'multiple crises,' in which artificial intelligence (AI) transition, the climate crisis, demographic changes, and global technological hegemony competition are all occurring simultaneously.

The Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) announced that, together with the Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), it will hold the "2050 Future Outlook Forecast & Strategy Forum" at 1:30 p.m. on May 21 at the Melon Hall, EL Tower, Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Reference photo for article comprehension. The "SOS System" representing the El Niño phenomenon installed in the indoor exhibition hall of the National Daegu Science Museum. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

This forum will be held under the theme "Designing a Sustainable Future in the Era of Multiple Crises." The discussions will focus on connecting future outlooks to national strategies and policies in a context where several complex crises, such as global technological hegemony competition, the climate crisis, demographic changes, and AI·digital transformation, are unfolding simultaneously.

Shin Dongpyeong, Director of the Technology Foresight Center at KISTEP, will present the main results of the first year of the 7th Science and Technology Foresight Survey on the topic "2050 Megatrends and Future Vision." Director Shin plans to outline five major megatrends: social change and value diversification; AI·digital transformation and technological innovation; demographic change and transition to a shrinking society; the climate crisis and sustainability; and uncertainties in the global order.

Following this, experts from each field will present their core visions for Korea's future strategy for 2050. Yoon Junghyun, Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), will address national, economic, and technological security strategies. Bae Soonmin, Co-Chair of the AI Future Forum at the Korean Association of Scientists and Engineers, will present a human-centered AI·digital transformation strategy.

Lee Sanglim, Senior Researcher at the Population Policy Research Center of Seoul National University, will present response strategies to demographic change and the transition to a shrinking society. Park Yongjin, Head of the Division at KIS Pricing, will discuss strategies for transitioning to a resilient society in the era of the climate crisis. Park Byungwon, Senior Research Fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), will propose inclusive approaches to social integration to address polarization and declining trust resulting from technological advancement.

The panel discussion will be chaired by Seo Yongseok, Professor at the Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy at KAIST. Participants include Jung Jibeom, Professor at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST); Cho Sanggeun, Associate Research Professor at the National Future Strategy Technology Policy Research Institute at KAIST; Ryu Hyunsook, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute of Public Administration; and Kim Dohun, CEO of Ars Praxia. They will discuss inter-ministerial policy coordination, strengthening national strategy based on science and technology, and the balance between technological innovation and social integration.

Hwang Jiho, Vice President and Acting President of KISTEP, stated, "Future outlooks should go beyond simple predictions and be linked to national strategy and policy. I hope this forum will serve as a venue for discussions to design a sustainable future for Korea."

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