Ha Jung-woo warns AI will cut jobs, urges tax revenue to fund youth and regional growth

Former AI‑future planning chief Ha Jung-woo addressed the 2026 Korean Economic Association Jeju Summer Forum at the Lotte Hotel in Jeju. He warned that "as AI raises corporate productivity, job loss is inevitable" and cautioned that the resulting K‑shaped inequality could deepen without intervention. Ha argued that excess tax revenues generated by the AI sector should be invested in young people and local economies to offset these effects.

He also highlighted South Korea’s strategic advantage in memory semiconductors, calling the country a potential “intelligence exporter.” Ha warned that powerful AI models may soon be subject to export controls comparable to nuclear weapons, urging coordinated action by government and industry.

The remarks emphasize a policy direction that pairs AI‑driven growth with social investment and export‑control preparedness.