[Editorial] Brains before algorithms
South Korea's push for AI leadership must confront the challenge of retaining talent
South Korea has declared its ambition to become one of the world's top three powers in artificial intelligence. The goal is bold, the funding substantial: President Lee Jae Myung has pledged 100 trillion won ($72.5 billion) to the sector.
Earlier this week, Lee appointed Ha Jung-woo, a respected AI researcher formerly at Naver, as the country's first senior presidential secretary for AI policy. A sweeping initiative, backed by public and private investment, is beginning to take shape.
Alongside infrastructure plans such as a major AI data center in Ulsan co-funded by SK Group and Amazon Web Services, Lee's initiative signals a serious — if belated — push to catch up in the global AI race.
But lofty goals and generous budgets alone do not make an AI powerhouse. Without the talent to match its vision, South Korea risks building a hollow structure: well-funded, well-planned and ultimately weakened by the steady loss of its brightest minds.
The warning signs are clear. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, South Korea ranks 35th out of 38 OECD countries in net AI talent mobility. For every 10,000 residents, 0.36 more AI professionals leave the country than arrive. This widening 'brain deficit' threatens the very foundation of Lee's AI strategy.
The trend is not confined to AI. Across science and technology fields, more Korean professionals are seeking careers abroad, while fewer foreign experts are choosing to relocate to South Korea.
The KCCI analysis also shows that the country's innovation pipeline is faltering: fewer international research partnerships, declining venture investment and a generation of STEM graduates opting for medical school or emigration over startups and R&D.
This is not simply about money. Young Korean scientists and engineers are drawn to countries where advancement is based on merit, not seniority. They want flexible work environments, robust research infrastructure and room to take intellectual risks. Yet at home, they face rigid institutional norms: a 52-hour workweek cap, seniority-based pay and limited opportunities for global collaboration — all of which hamper South Korea's ability to attract and retain top-tier talent.
The financial cost of this exodus is high. Each college graduate who leaves to work abroad represents more than 550 million won in lost public investment and future tax revenue. The long-term damage is even greater. As the scientific workforce erodes, the innovations South Korea hopes will define its economic future could stall before they begin.
The government's investment in AI infrastructure is a necessary step. Ha Jung-woo's appointment and his advocacy for a sovereign AI trained on Korean language and culture show strategic insight into the risks of overdependence on foreign platforms. But infrastructure must be matched by reforms that address the root causes of the brain drain.
The task ahead is not just to slow the outflow, but to reverse it. South Korea needs a comprehensive 'brain gain' strategy that builds a national ecosystem where talent can thrive. This includes more flexible labor rules, performance-based rewards and stronger support for research and innovation. It also means creating meaningful incentives for foreign experts to come, and to stay, through streamlined visas, tax benefits and improved housing and education options.
By the end of 2025, South Korea is expected to face a shortfall of nearly 15,000 AI professionals. And in an era when AI capability is closely tied to national security, economic competitiveness and global standing, there is little margin for error.
South Korea has the financial resources, political resolve and technological foundation to lead in AI. But success will depend less on the amount invested and more on the country's ability to cultivate — and retain — the people who will drive that future forward. In the AI age, it is not the machines but the minds that matter most.
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[Editorial] Brains before algorithms
South Korea's push for AI leadership must confront the challenge of retaining talent South Korea has declared its ambition to become one of the world's top three powers in artificial intelligence. The goal is bold, the funding substantial: President Lee Jae Myung has pledged 100 trillion won ($72.5 billion) to the sector. Earlier this week, Lee appointed Ha Jung-woo, a respected AI researcher formerly at Naver, as the country's first senior presidential secretary for AI policy. A sweeping initiative, backed by public and private investment, is beginning to take shape. Alongside infrastructure plans such as a major AI data center in Ulsan co-funded by SK Group and Amazon Web Services, Lee's initiative signals a serious — if belated — push to catch up in the global AI race. But lofty goals and generous budgets alone do not make an AI powerhouse. Without the talent to match its vision, South Korea risks building a hollow structure: well-funded, well-planned and ultimately weakened by the steady loss of its brightest minds. The warning signs are clear. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, South Korea ranks 35th out of 38 OECD countries in net AI talent mobility. For every 10,000 residents, 0.36 more AI professionals leave the country than arrive. This widening 'brain deficit' threatens the very foundation of Lee's AI strategy. The trend is not confined to AI. Across science and technology fields, more Korean professionals are seeking careers abroad, while fewer foreign experts are choosing to relocate to South Korea. The KCCI analysis also shows that the country's innovation pipeline is faltering: fewer international research partnerships, declining venture investment and a generation of STEM graduates opting for medical school or emigration over startups and R&D. This is not simply about money. Young Korean scientists and engineers are drawn to countries where advancement is based on merit, not seniority. They want flexible work environments, robust research infrastructure and room to take intellectual risks. Yet at home, they face rigid institutional norms: a 52-hour workweek cap, seniority-based pay and limited opportunities for global collaboration — all of which hamper South Korea's ability to attract and retain top-tier talent. The financial cost of this exodus is high. Each college graduate who leaves to work abroad represents more than 550 million won in lost public investment and future tax revenue. The long-term damage is even greater. As the scientific workforce erodes, the innovations South Korea hopes will define its economic future could stall before they begin. The government's investment in AI infrastructure is a necessary step. Ha Jung-woo's appointment and his advocacy for a sovereign AI trained on Korean language and culture show strategic insight into the risks of overdependence on foreign platforms. But infrastructure must be matched by reforms that address the root causes of the brain drain. The task ahead is not just to slow the outflow, but to reverse it. South Korea needs a comprehensive 'brain gain' strategy that builds a national ecosystem where talent can thrive. This includes more flexible labor rules, performance-based rewards and stronger support for research and innovation. It also means creating meaningful incentives for foreign experts to come, and to stay, through streamlined visas, tax benefits and improved housing and education options. By the end of 2025, South Korea is expected to face a shortfall of nearly 15,000 AI professionals. And in an era when AI capability is closely tied to national security, economic competitiveness and global standing, there is little margin for error. South Korea has the financial resources, political resolve and technological foundation to lead in AI. But success will depend less on the amount invested and more on the country's ability to cultivate — and retain — the people who will drive that future forward. In the AI age, it is not the machines but the minds that matter most.
