Korea, China urged to deepen tech cooperation despite intensifying competition
A general view shows visitors and stands at the Drone World Congress in Shenzhen, May 21. AFP-Yonhap
By Yulu Ao
Scholars argue no country can dominate innovation alone
Korea and China should seek deeper cooperation in emerging technologies despite growing competition and worsening global fragmentation, scholars said Tuesday, arguing that no country can dominate the next wave of innovation alone.
The remarks came at the Gather in Shenzhen forum at Hanyang University in Seoul, part of a three-day event organized by Shenzhen Media Group ahead of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Shenzhen.
Speaking at a session on technology innovation, Lee Hee-ok, emeritus dean of Sungkyun Institute of China Studies, said Korea's ambition to become one of the world's top three artificial intelligence (AI) powers would require strategic investment and international collaboration.
"Every country today is moving within a similar framework of competition," Lee pointed out. "No country can win in every field."
Instead, Korea should focus on becoming a "strategic linchpin" — ensuring that the global technology ecosystem cannot function without Korean capabilities, he said.
Lee said Korea's strengths lie in memory semiconductors and precision manufacturing, while its weaknesses include a relatively small domestic market, limited AI models and an innovation ecosystem still dominated by large conglomerates.
China, meanwhile, benefits from the so-called “China speed” — a vast talent pool, a large domestic market, the ability to commercialize technologies quickly and a society that serves as "a giant experimental field" for innovation, Lee added.
"The strengths and weaknesses of Korea and China are complementary," he said. "Combining Korea's strengths with China's market scale and manufacturing capabilities is at the core of bilateral cooperation."
Participants attend the Gather in Shenzhen forum at Hanyang University in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Shenzhen Media Group
Potential areas for cooperation include basic science research, startups, carbon neutrality and health care solutions for ageing societies, according to Lee.
Guo Rui, vice director of international politics at Jilin University, said the era of a single country dominating technological innovation has ended, as modern innovation increasingly relies on interconnected ecosystems spanning value, industrial and supply chains.
"Regional cooperation, especially cooperation between countries, has become an inevitable choice," Guo said.
He added that AI, green transition and digital technologies all require cross-border collaboration, as no country can monopolize all the resources needed for technological development.
The forum is part of a wider program aimed at promoting exchanges between China and Korea while building momentum for the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, which Shenzhen will host in November under the themes of openness, innovation and cooperation. It combines academic discussions with an exhibition showcasing Shenzhen-made technologies ranging from AI interpreter earbuds to augmented reality glasses and wearable robotics.
Participants also discussed challenges facing future collaboration, including data governance, differing technical standards and intellectual property protection, while emphasizing that dialogue remains essential despite geopolitical tensions.
Yulu Ao is a reporter with the South China Morning Post. She is currently based in Seoul, writing for both The Korea Times and the South China Morning Post under an exchange program.