Demographic Change and Korea’s Growth Prospects: The Role of AI and Human Capital

This seminar examines Korea’s current growth challenges in the context of rapid demographic change, including declining fertility and population aging, alongside slowing productivity and the limits of export-led growth. It discusses the economic roles of artificial intelligence and human capital, offering a brief assessment of Korea’s current capabilities in both areas. The central argument is that demographic decline does not mechanically determine long-run growth trajectories. Instead, Korea’s future performance will depend on how effectively AI adoption, human capital investment, and industrial transformation are combined into a coherent growth strategy. AI alone will not raise productivity without complementary skills, and technological progress must be linked to sectoral upgrading through appropriate policies.