{"slug": "south-koreas-moon-landing-quantum-chips-seoul-bets-big-on-post-ai-economy", "title": "South Korea’s moon landing, quantum chips: Seoul bets big on post-AI economy", "summary": "South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources announced a strategy on Wednesday to build seven next-generation industries, including quantum technology, nuclear fusion, and small modular reactors, aiming to secure a foothold in a post-AI economy. The plan, dubbed 'Strategic Emerging Engines for Disruptive Innovation' (SEEDs), comes as the OECD projects the country's potential growth could fall to a record-low 1.52% next year, and economists warn that the semiconductor export boom is insufficient to sustain the economy.", "body_md": "# South Korea’s moon landing, quantum chips: Seoul bets big on post-AI economy\n\nThe country has identified seven next-generation industries, including nuclear fusion and small modular reactors, to stem sluggish growth potential\n\n[South Korea](https://www.scmp.com/topics/south-korea?module=inline&pgtype=article)is banking on moonshots in a post-AI economy to stem sluggish growth potential amid an ageing population and deepening reliance on its semiconductor exports.\n\nFrom quantum chips and fusion power to a lunar landing, Seoul this week unveiled a strategy to build seven next-generation industries over the coming decades.\n\nThe aim is to secure a foothold in technologies shaping a post-AI world before superpowers the United States and China pull further ahead.\n\nThe move marks mounting urgency for a country whose potential growth, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), could fall to a record-low 1.52 per cent next year. Economists also warn that a recent semiconductor export boom is not enough to sustain the economy.\n\nThe plan, announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources on Wednesday, identifies seven “Strategic Emerging Engines for Disruptive Innovation,” or SEEDs: small modular reactors, nuclear fusion, breakthrough renewable energy, quantum technology, space and aviation, advanced biotechnology and advanced supply chains.\n\n[Lee Jae Myung](https://www.scmp.com/topics/lee-jae-myung?module=inline&pgtype=article)reportedly telling his cabinet “the seeds of advanced technologies we plant today will grow into giant trees in the future”.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/south-koreas-moon-landing-quantum-chips-seoul-bets-big-on-post-ai-economy", "canonical_source": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3363902/south-koreas-moon-landing-quantum-chips-seoul-bets-big-post-ai-economy?utm_source=rss_feed", "published_at": "2026-08-14 00:00:13+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-14 00:16:10.744934+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy"], "entities": ["Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources", "Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development", "Lee Jae Myung"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/south-koreas-moon-landing-quantum-chips-seoul-bets-big-on-post-ai-economy", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/south-koreas-moon-landing-quantum-chips-seoul-bets-big-on-post-ai-economy.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/south-koreas-moon-landing-quantum-chips-seoul-bets-big-on-post-ai-economy.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/south-koreas-moon-landing-quantum-chips-seoul-bets-big-on-post-ai-economy.jsonld"}}