Jang Donghyuk: "Korea Falling Behind Due to Political Hesitation... Will Focus on Shaping AI Policy"

Yeouido Institute's Wednesday Policy Seminar

Former Minister Lee Joungho calls for negative regulation in advanced industries and tailored talent development

On the 30th, Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, stated, "It is true that while the National Assembly and politicians in Korea hesitated, we fell significantly behind in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Both our companies and citizens are working hard, so policy must not lag behind. We will focus our efforts on establishing effective AI policies."

Attending the 'Wednesday Policy Academy' hosted by the party’s Yeouido Institute earlier in the morning, Jang continued, "We are not only living in the AI era, but also entering the age of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and even the era of Superintelligence (SI). The pace of change is so rapid that it is difficult to keep up."

He further explained, "While we worry about how to change our lives and industries in the AI era, there are also warnings that AI could come to dominate humanity. It's as if we're already receiving an air raid warning that AI could threaten humanity even before we've fully grasped it ourselves."

On the 30th, Jang Donghyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, and other lawmakers posed for a photo at the 'Wednesday Policy Academy' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. At this day's Wednesday Policy Academy, former Minister of Science and ICT Kim Jongho gave a lecture on the theme of 'Policy Suggestions in the AI Era.' 2026.09.30 Photo by Dongju Yoon

He went on to say, "We must certainly consider the side effects of AI, but given that we have entered an era of technological hegemony, the world is less focused on an ‘AI backlash’ and more on how AI will transform the future. We, too, must ensure that politics fulfills the necessary role in strengthening our semiconductor competitiveness and establishing Korea as a global AI powerhouse."

Jo Seunghwan, a lawmaker and head of the Yeouido Institute, also commented, "AI carries both faces: it is an opportunity if leveraged well, but a risk we must remain wary of. While some advocate for cautious prudence, others are rushing ahead, creating a situation where we cannot simply regulate AI, but at the same time cannot ignore the problems that AI may bring."

Jo added, "Especially at times like these, it is vital that we first assess where we stand in the AI era. From that point, we need to look to both the present and the future to identify policy needs. For this reason, the Yeouido Institute will continue to host breakfast seminars with expert speakers."

That day, Lee Jongho, former Minister of Science and ICT and keynote speaker, emphasized the importance of fostering advanced venture companies and promoting the commercialization of technology regarding industrial policies for the AI era. He also highlighted the need to ease regulations and to cultivate tailored talent to support these goals.

Lee further stated, "Since it is increasingly difficult to create jobs only through traditional core industries, advancing ventures in leading-edge sectors is crucial for industrial transformation and youth job creation. In the field of advanced technology, negative regulation should be applied as much as possible, and efforts should be made to nurture talent tailored to the needs of regional industries."

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