(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on Aug. 6)

South Korea's ambitious plans to become a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) are facing a significant challenge: the exodus of top AI researchers. According to a World Bank report, the country lost 1,716 elite AI experts between 2011 and 2024, losing an average of 11 per month. This is in stark contrast to the United States, which attracted a net 197 top AI researchers per month during the same period, and Britain, which gained 20.

The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) ranked Korea second in the world for scientific infrastructure but only 37th for talent competitiveness. This suggests that while Korea excels at building research capacity, it is struggling to retain and attract the people who matter most in the AI field.

The World Bank report warns that this talent drain could hinder Korea's ability to establish itself as a global AI hub. The findings echo a recent assessment by the IMD, which ranked Korea only 37th for talent competitiveness, despite its strong scientific infrastructure. The report emphasizes that securing world-class AI talent is no longer just an issue of industrial policy, but one of national survival.

The Korean government has pledged a 100 trillion won ($70.2 billion) investment program to make Korea one of the world's three leading AI powers. Additionally, Samsung and SK Group have announced combined investment plans totaling 4.75 quadrillion won, reflecting a significant public-private push to strengthen the nation's AI capabilities.

However, the report suggests that these investments alone will not be enough if the country continues to lose its brightest minds. Without a sufficient number of researchers capable of generating original breakthroughs, the government's ambition to establish South Korea as a global AI hub may remain an empty slogan. The report argues that the country must reform its ecosystem to nurture and reward talent, not just spend more money on facilities and equipment.

To achieve this, Korea needs to offer globally competitive compensation, provide greater autonomy to researchers, and create living and working conditions that are attractive enough to draw the world's best talent. The report emphasizes that in the AI age, leadership belongs not just to those who build technology, but to those who create it. Therefore, retaining domestic talent and attracting the world's brightest AI minds should become a national priority.