South Korean President Lee Declares AI National Infrastructure After Dec 5 SoftBank Meeting
Updated (3 articles)
Lee’s Dec 5 Meeting With SoftBank Founder President Lee Jae‑Myung met SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son at the Yongsan presidential office on 5 December 2025 to discuss AI cooperation, semiconductor collaboration, and infrastructure investment, accompanied by chief of staff Kang Hoon‑sik, policy chief Kim Yong‑bum, Science Minister Bae Kyung‑hoon and Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan[3]. The meeting also included Arm CEO Rene Haas, reflecting a broader tech agenda[1]. Both Yonhap reports describe the gathering as a high‑level dialogue aimed at positioning South Korea among the world’s top three AI powers[2].
AI Positioned as Core National Infrastructure Lee declared that artificial intelligence must become a basic utility comparable to water and sewage, accessible to citizens, businesses and public agencies across the country[1][2]. He emphasized nationwide integration of AI technologies to drive economic growth and societal benefits. The statement aligns with his administration’s pledge, made since June 2025, to elevate South Korea to a leading AI nation[3].
Strategic Requests and International Cooperation During the discussion, Lee asked Son for insight on the current AI trend and potential bubble, seeking guidance on how South Korea can secure a top‑three global AI ranking[2]. Lee also urged Son to act as a bridge for AI collaboration between South Korea and Japan, highlighting the strategic importance of bilateral cooperation[2]. Son responded with remarks on artificial super‑intelligence, describing it as roughly 10,000 times smarter than the human brain and advocating for harmonious coexistence rather than strict control[2].
Parallel Semiconductor Initiative With Arm The same day, the Ministry of Industry and British chip‑design firm Arm signed an MOU to train 1,400 semiconductor designers, formalized during Lee’s meeting with Arm’s CEO and SoftBank’s Son[1]. The program aims to boost South Korea’s chip‑design talent pool and reinforce its position in the global semiconductor supply chain. This initiative complements the AI infrastructure agenda by strengthening underlying hardware capabilities.
SoftBank’s AI Investment Context Son’s SoftBank Group has heavily invested in AI, notably the “Stargate” joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle to build AI data centers, a topic slated for discussion at the meeting[3]. Lee’s prior engagements with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang underscore a broader strategy to attract AI‑related capital and expertise[3]. The SoftBank partnership is viewed as a catalyst for South Korea’s AI ecosystem expansion.
Discrepancy in Reported Meeting Date Yonhap’s article 3 announced the meeting for 4 December 2025, while articles 1 and 2 report that the meeting actually occurred on 5 December 2025. This one‑day shift suggests a scheduling change or reporting variance between the pre‑meeting announcement and the post‑meeting coverage[1][2][3].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap “Lee Jae Myung Envisions AI Infrastructure Amid SoftBank Meeting”: Details the Dec 5 meeting, AI‑as‑infrastructure vision, Arm training pact, and record drug seizure, emphasizing South Korea’s AI commitment.
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2.
Yonhap “Lee Jae‑Myung envisions AI as national infrastructure in meeting with SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son”: Focuses on Lee’s AI infrastructure statement, request for Son’s AI‑bubble insight, and call for Japan‑South Korea AI cooperation.
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3.
Yonhap “South Korean President Lee to Meet SoftBank Founder Masayoshi Son on Friday”: Announces a Dec 4 meeting, lists senior officials attending, and outlines SoftBank’s AI investment background, including the Stargate project.
Timeline
Jan – Oct 2025 – Korea Customs Service confiscates 2,913 kg of narcotics, nearly four times the amount seized in the same period a year earlier, highlighting a record‑high crackdown on drug smuggling[1].
June 2025 – President Lee Jae‑Myung assumes office and pledges to position South Korea among the world’s top three AI powerhouses, launching an aggressive AI‑focused policy agenda[3].
Early 2025 (date unspecified) – Lee holds meetings with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to discuss AI collaboration and investment, laying groundwork for later partnerships[3].
Dec 4, 2025 – Lee schedules a meeting with SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son at the presidential office, attended by senior officials including chief of staff Kang Hoon‑sik and Science Minister Bae Kyung‑hoon, to discuss AI, semiconductors and infrastructure investment[3].
Dec 5, 2025 – In the Yongsan meeting, Lee declares “AI should become a basic infrastructure comparable to water and sewage systems,” urging universal AI access for citizens, businesses and organizations[2][1].
Dec 5, 2025 – Lee asks Son for insight on the “AI bubble” and how South Korea can rank among the top three AI powers, signalling concern over rapid market expansion[2].
Dec 5, 2025 – Lee thanks Son for past assistance in U.S. tariff negotiations and notes Son previously advised former presidents Kim Dae‑jung and Moon Jae‑in, underscoring a long‑standing tech‑policy partnership[2].
Dec 5, 2025 – Lee urges Son to act as a bridge for Japan‑South Korea AI cooperation, emphasizing regional collaboration as a strategic priority[2].
Dec 5, 2025 – Son explains that artificial super‑intelligence would be “roughly 10,000 times smarter than the human brain,” advises moving beyond attempts to control AI, and promotes a “harmonious coexistence” mindset[2].
Dec 5, 2025 – South Korea and Arm sign an MOU to train 1,400 chip‑design specialists, aiming to boost domestic semiconductor design capacity[1].
Dec 5, 2025 – SoftBank’s “Stargate” AI data‑center project with OpenAI and Oracle is highlighted as a key investment focus for future Korean AI infrastructure[3].
Dec 5, 2025 – IGAWorks reports Coupang’s daily active users fall to 17.78 million after a massive data breach, ending a four‑day rise and raising concerns over user data security[1].
Dec 5, 2025 – Kia Corp unveils the Vision Meta Turismo concept car featuring smart‑glass technology, marking its 80th anniversary and signaling a push toward futuristic mobility[1].