On September 15th, Lee Hyung-il, South Korea’s nominee for the position of finance minister, asserted that the nation’s economy is at a pivotal juncture. On one front, the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector is fueling a surge in the semiconductor industry, thereby opening up fresh avenues for growth. Conversely, the economy is also confronted with challenges, including volatility in the chip market cycle, shifts in global interest rates, and escalating geopolitical tensions. Nevertheless, the robust demand for AI technologies has significantly bolstered South Korea’s chip exports and investments, thereby invigorating the momentum of its economic resurgence. Lee Hyung-il expressed confidence that the nation is on track to achieve its targeted 3% economic growth for the current year, with per capita income projected to ascend to the $40,000 threshold. However, he sounded a note of caution against complacency, emphasizing that South Korea must capitalize on this upturn to foster new drivers of growth and fortify its economic resilience in order to navigate the uncertainties of global trade and mitigate geopolitical risks.