8 South Korean AI SMEs Debut at 2026 WAIC as China Competition Spurs Benchmarking
Updated
Updated · Global Times · Jul 21
8 South Korean AI SMEs Debut at 2026 WAIC as China Competition Spurs Benchmarking
3 articles · Updated · Global Times · Jul 21
Summary
Eight South Korean AI SMEs joined the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference as a group for the first time, organized by the Korea Innovation Center in China under Seoul’s science ministry.
KIC China said the firms came to measure their technology against Chinese and global rivals as China’s fast innovation cycle and tougher market competition raise pressure on South Korean companies.
Kim Jong-moon argued China now offers not just lower costs but faster prototyping, manufacturing and product iteration, making on-the-ground exposure critical for SMEs that risk falling behind.
China and South Korea remain deeply linked industrially: bilateral trade reached $331.2 billion in 2025, with China still a key market and production base for major South Korean companies including Samsung and SK Hynix.
The visit underscores a broader message that South Korean firms should treat China as a competitive testing ground and partner network, not assume their current technological edge will hold.