South Korean business leaders and technology experts are urging the country to move beyond the fast-follower model that powered its economic growth and establish leadership in artificial intelligence. At the Herald Business Forum 2026, held Tuesday at The Shilla Seoul under the theme "Beyond followers, transitioning to a leading economy," speakers argued that South Korea should build on its strengths in semiconductors and manufacturing while advancing computing, infrastructure, technology and standards. The forum also examined AI’s expansion into factories, shipyards and space, as well as constraints including memory bottlenecks and corporate adoption.