가려진 이야기들로 다시 쓰는 ‘AI 시대의 사회계약’

The 17th Asian Future Forum, hosted by Haniro, took place on October 28th at the International Conference Hall of the National Assembly of Korea. The theme of the forum was 'In a Changing Era, the Path to a Leading Nation.' Amidst shifting international order and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the forum sought to explore how Korean society can coexist harmoniously.

Prior to the forum, various keynote interviews and guest articles were published. Last month, in Germany's Freie Universität Berlin, a Korean exchange student excitedly greeted me in his golden-haired glory, remarking on how close Korea is to Germany despite the distance. The vibrant presence of Korean products in European cities, from advertisements featuring K-pop idols to Korean beauty products in local stores, is undeniable.

This newfound status of Korea has grown to awe-inspiring proportions. Countries like Germany and Japan rank sixth in the 'Global AI Index,' while Korea, with the highest number of AI patents per capita and notable AI models, comes in third. The Korean economy's growth projection for this year is the highest in five years at 3.3%, and the country ranks 33rd out of 38 OECD nations in self-reported life satisfaction, while suicide rates remain alarmingly high.

Despite the success, many are left wondering about the hidden stories of those struggling to find their place. Are we overlooking certain aspects, or are we simply unwilling to see them? Let's take a closer look at the numbers. According to the World Inequality Report, the top 1% of earners will see their share of income triple by 2022, reaching 14.7%.

In the recent household financial welfare survey, the income gap between the top 20% and bottom 20% of earners has widened again, with the top 10% of households owning nearly half of the country's total net assets, while the bottom half holds only 1/10th of that. In a disconcerting turn of events, a study conducted by our research team revealed that over half of young adults entering the workforce for the first time do so through platform-based jobs.

Many of these platform workers, lacking any form of job security, begin their careers in precarious platform labor. The lack of support leaves them vulnerable during difficult times, with only one in three having access to unemployment insurance and one in three feeling lonely when feeling down. The weight of loneliness and despair hangs heavily on the shoulders of these young platform workers.

The anxiety that many feel about the future is palpable. Nearly seven out of ten worry that AI will replace their jobs within five years, and even those who have graduated from college are not immune to these anxieties. Seventy-three percent of respondents expressed doubt about the future, particularly among platform workers. The unseen laborers behind these apparent successes are still waiting to be recognized.

While the impressive achievements may seem attainable, the support holding them up is nowhere to be found. In September, a court heard the case of 106 autonomous vehicle data labelers who demanded recognition as workers, despite companies having thoroughly documented and tested their work. The majority of these machine-room-level workers in AI factories are employed by Samsung Electronics, with estimates suggesting there are between 50,000 and 60,000 of them.

The success of the AI powerhouse rests on the labor, eyes, and sweat of countless people, with an underbelly of unprotected individuals supporting the AI supply chain. So, how can we coexist harmoniously in this AI age? This question of modern democratic societies has been pondered for centuries. We have arrived at answers through social contracts, agreements we collectively make.

We have established social welfare systems, labor standards, and balanced frameworks to prevent power imbalances. Now, it's time to craft new agreements for the AI transition. The glittering success stories may hide the struggles of those left behind. Should these stories continue to be forgotten, it would be a tragedy. The social safety nets we have built, from employment relationships to labor standards, are largely based on employment contracts.

But as platform-based jobs become increasingly common, we must transition to income-based social insurance. This would ensure a broader range of people are protected. Additionally, a minimum income floor must be established, ensuring everyone receives a basic income, regardless of their employment status. The government's recent proposal to increase the basic labor incentive, a form of income support for platform workers, is a welcome step.

However, if the support ends there, it may be seen as shifting the responsibility to businesses rather than the government. Just as we fit clothes to our growing bodies, the outdated Labor Standards Act needs to be revised to accommodate all forms of work. Furthermore, we must address the issue of shared wealth more boldly. The success of AI, derived from the labor of many and public infrastructure funded by taxes, should not be confined to a select few.

Instead, we should explore new models of shared prosperity, such as a universal basic income or assets for young adults, to ensure everyone benefits equally. This conversation should start with discussions on how to share the wealth generated by AI, from renewable energy and building energy efficiency to care work. However, recent budget allocations for nationwide integrated childcare, totaling 1558 billion won, pale in comparison to the 47 trillion won allocated for frontier AI.

While the revenue outlook appears promising due to the booming semiconductor industry, the question remains: who will these funds benefit? The AI models, rather than the unsung individuals supporting them, should be the primary focus of these funds. The new social contract should begin with recognizing the unseen hands and neighbors who have supported the AI models.