Bespin Global CEO Lee Han-ju in 'Sovereign AI' talks with Saudi CEOs

A delegation of promising Saudi Arabian startups visited Korea and engaged in in-depth discussions on Korea's AI strategy and the importance of data sovereignty. On November 24, Lee Han-joo, CEO of Bespin Global, gave a lecture on 'Sovereign AI' and 'K-AI' at a meeting held as part of the 'Code Tech Founders Program,' organized by the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MICT) and operated by SparkLabs, presenting the core aspects of future AI competition. CEO Lee Han-joo defined Sovereign AI as a system where a nation or organization secures AI sovereignty based on its own data and infrastructure without relying on external technology, emphasizing the intensifying competition for AI sovereignty in the global market. He explained that Korea, in particular, is applying Sovereign AI in various industrial sectors such as public services, manufacturing, and services, and is seeking differentiation through a K-AI strategy that combines language and cultural data. Concrete application cases were also introduced during the lecture. He presented an AI utilization model in the public sector through 'Modu-ui Gwangjang' (Everyone's Plaza), a citizen-participatory public communication platform, and showcased a model that enhances the efficiency of national key industries while maintaining data sovereignty, citing the case of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Sovereign AI implementation. CEO Lee repeatedly advised Saudi startup representatives on the importance of localization strategies. He emphasized that as Saudi Arabia pursues a national-level AI transformation, it must go beyond simply adopting foreign models and build its own unique AI ecosystem that reflects its national language, regulations, and cultural environment. Furthermore, he cited the close cooperation structure among companies, research institutions, government, and investors as the driving force behind the growth of Korea's AI ecosystem, stressing that the creation of a partnership-based ecosystem, alongside technology development, is a prerequisite for global market expansion and strengthening national competitiveness. CEO Lee Han-joo stated, "While the speed of AI technology development can create disparities between nations, it will present new opportunities for countries that secure data sovereignty." He emphasized that "whether a nation goes beyond simply adopting foreign models to build an ecosystem based on its own data will determine its national competitiveness," presenting a blueprint for Saudi Arabia's unique AI future.