South Korea Presidential Election 2025: Students Embrace AI's Future Potential While Questioning Candidates' Preparedness for Tech Leadership

Young voters in South Korea expressed different views on increasing funding for AI development, as some presidential candidates have mentioned AI in their speeches, amid the country's rising financial input for technology research and development.

“I think it’s kind of a waste of money because we already have technologies like GPT, and China has DeepSeek. Developing AI requires a lot of information and money,” said Kim Jun Young, an English Education student at Korea University.

“Still, we don’t really have sufficient resources to compete on the same level,” she added.

Park (assume name), 26, majored in computer science, has also expressed doubts about the practicality and feasibility of AI policies proposed by different candidates.

 “ I’m doubtful whether they can achieve meaningful advancements in this field,” he said, adding that he thinks many candidates do not understand AI much.

South Korea recently increased the research and development budget for 2025 by 16.1 percent year-on-year to a record high of KRW 24.8 trillion (HK$ 141.4 billion) with a focus on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and quantum technology. The ambitious investment aims to position South Korea as a global leader in these fields. 

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, who leads the poll, has identified AI, renewable energy, and the cultural industries as essential tools for addressing South Korea’s economic challenges meanwhile Kim Moon-soo, first runner-up in the poll, from the conservative People Power Party, promote himself by creating a joint fund to boost AI development.

Meanwhile, Lee Jun-seok, the youngest candidate among all, representing the Reform New Party, emphasises the importance of data freedom in AI development and highlights the role of Large Language Models (LLMs) in advancing the industry.

AI has become a core driving force for national development, with applications spanning industries such as information and communication, manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and education.

South Korea has also emerged as a global leader in AI infrastructure, policy support, and technology development, ranking sixth in global AI competitiveness, according to The Global AI Index. The government’s significant investments aim to enhance corporate competitiveness, create new business opportunities, and solidify the country’s position at the forefront of AI innovation.