AI wealth must benefit the public, South Korea's deputy PM says

South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, Bae Kyung-hoon, told CNBC that the wealth generated by artificial intelligence (AI) must not be concentrated among a handful of firms and should benefit the wider public. He cited recent labour tensions at Samsung Electronics as an example of how the AI era could exacerbate social and workplace frictions if gains are unevenly distributed.

Bae said government officials are actively concerned about AI’s potential to widen income gaps and to displace certain categories of workers. He referenced the provisional agreement between Samsung and its union, which has been put to a member vote running May 22–27, after government-mediated talks temporarily averted a planned 18-day strike. Reuters reported that Samsung shares jumped more than 6% intraday after the tentative deal was announced.

The episode highlights a broader economic challenge: AI-driven profits have disproportionately lifted leading semiconductor and tech firms, shifting labour demand and creating pressures in supply chains. The strong performance of major memory-chip producers has been a key driver of market gains in Seoul, but it has also sharpened the debate over who captures the benefits of the AI boom.

At the policy level, officials are discussing measures to ensure more inclusive outcomes from AI-related gains. Bloomberg and other outlets have reported on proposals ranging from targeted redistribution mechanisms to ideas resembling a “citizen dividend,” though no formal policy has been enacted. Bae’s remarks reflect the government’s attempt to balance aggressive support for AI competitiveness with social cohesion objectives.

Analysts say the immediate market reaction will hinge on the union vote outcome and any spillovers to global chip supply. Over the medium term, the focus is likely to shift toward labour-market policies — including reskilling programs and potential tax or transfer measures — that could alter corporate margins and investor expectations. For markets, the key uncertainty is how far policy makers will go to redistribute AI profits and at what cost to corporate profitability.