KTC, the World’s No. 1 Testing Certification Institute Leading the Way to the 4th Industrial Revolution
The core theme of "CES 2025," which opened on January 7 (local time) in Las Vegas, USA, is "Artificial Intelligence (AI)." As AI is increasingly integrating into daily life due to advancements in technology, participants at the "2025 CES Forum" hosted by ET News suggested that South Korea should focus on data collection and niche markets to gain a competitive edge in the AI industry.
Jae-Sik Lee, Executive Vice President of Dongwoon Anatech's Technology Development Division, emphasized the importance of data-based algorithms, stating that the "AI boom" is still ongoing. He stressed that the essence of AI lies in accumulating data and developing algorithms to enhance people’s lives.
“AI is fundamentally about how we obtain and process data,” Lee explained. “That’s why architectures like CPUs and GPUs have been developed, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is gaining attention to process data faster.”
Lee also mentioned that Dongwoon Anatech, a fabless company producing integrated circuits (ICs) for smartphone camera modules, has amassed significant data through its autofocus and image processing functions but had not utilized it effectively until now.
He explained that the lack of recognition of data's importance was the reason, but the company has started leveraging machine learning technology to create algorithms since last year.
“By collecting data, we have been able to enhance IC technology,” Lee said. “In automotive motor control and battery management systems (BMS), data utilization can help identify driver patterns and charging/discharging behaviors.”
This contributes to improved technological reliability and safety, making AI algorithms more practical in everyday life. “To ensure safety, we are also developing program algorithms,” Lee added, emphasizing that effective data utilization is key to integrating AI into daily life.
Ji-Hyung Han, CEO of Autonomous A2Z, proposed targeting niche markets as a strategic approach to strengthen competitiveness in advanced industries like AI. Autonomous A2Z, a self-driving startup, has secured over 80 billion KRW in investment, the highest among autonomous driving companies in South Korea.
Han stated, “Self-driving and AI ultimately revolve around data and infrastructure. While the Korean government is operating initiatives like the ‘Autonomous Driving Technology Development Innovation Project’ with a budget of about 1.1 trillion KRW, it pales in comparison to China, which invests around 200 trillion KRW annually in autonomous driving and electric vehicles, making direct competition difficult.”
He stressed the importance of recognizing this reality and finding opportunities in areas where South Korea can secure a competitive edge against the US and China. Instead of focusing on autonomous taxi markets, which China is heavily investing in, he suggested creating autonomous driving infrastructure tailored to South Korea’s unique needs.
“Rather than following the investment patterns of the US and China, we need to focus on technologies specialized for Korea and provide the necessary support. Though niche markets may be smaller, autonomous driving has the potential to reshape future market dynamics,” Han said.
The forum also highlighted that South Korea's home appliance industry needs to create AI-based intelligent home services and build ecosystems to enhance competitiveness.
Seok-Ki Hong, Head of the Technology Innovation Division at the Korea Electronics Association (KEA), stated, “Incorporating AI into home appliances, such as turning on a TV program you want to watch automatically at 8 p.m., aligns with the concept of ‘ambient technology.’”
Hong emphasized the importance of implementing "on-device AI" in appliances and pursuing R&D for smaller, specialized models in addition to large language models (LLMs).
“The lack of a mass production platform capable of producing over 10,000 units after a prototype is a challenge for South Korea’s home appliance industry,” Hong noted. He mentioned that KEA has established an electronics manufacturing center for Yongsan startups, emphasizing the need for ecosystem formation.
The Korea Testing Certification (KTC) agency also plans to support the domestic industry's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts through digital and green transitions. KTC President Seong-Il Ahn stated, “We will focus on two key certifications.”