Korean media: "The era when South Korea needs to catch up with China has arrived!"
On April 6, the Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo published an article stating that recent data shows China's technological breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics have significantly widened the gap between China and South Korea in key technologies. In semiconductor, display, and rechargeable battery sectors, China has already surpassed South Korea.
According to the 2024 National Technology Level Assessment Results submitted by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea scored a composite technology level of 82.7% across 50 national strategic technologies, using the United States as 100%. China rose from 86.5% of the U.S. level in 2022 to 91.3% in 2024. The technological gap between South Korea and China expanded from 4.8 percentage points to 8.6 percentage points within just two years—nearly doubling.
The 50 national strategic technologies cover areas including semiconductors and display technologies, rechargeable batteries, advanced mobility, next-generation nuclear energy, aerospace and marine technology, hydrogen energy, artificial intelligence, next-generation communications, advanced robotics and manufacturing, and quantum technologies.
China’s quantum technology development level reached 93.2% of the U.S. level, while South Korea stood at only 67.8%. The disparity is equally significant in aerospace. China’s aerospace technology reached 84.8%, compared to South Korea’s 59.3%.
In recently debated fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics, China also demonstrates clear advantages. In artificial intelligence, the gap between South Korea (80.6%) and China (93.0%) stands at 12.4 percentage points. In robotics, China scores 90%, while South Korea reaches 81%. China has developed a rich ecosystem in robot components and materials—precisely reflecting the technological gap between the two nations.
The era when South Korea must catch up with China has arrived. Even industries where South Korea once held an advantage—semiconductors and displays—are now under threat. In this field, China’s technology level reaches 91.5%, compared to South Korea’s 91.2%—in practice, the technical edge no longer exists. The South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT stated: “China has captured the market in displays through massive investments in LCD technology and low-price strategies. In semiconductors, it has rapidly closed the gap through state-led concentrated investment across all domains, achieving notable progress in electronic design automation and lithography equipment. For the first time, China has overtaken South Korea in rechargeable batteries, successfully claiming the top global position.”
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861687482961036/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author