What Should Korea’s Next Goal Be?

Korea succeeded in industrialization, achieved democratization, and rose from one of the world’s poorest countries to the threshold of the advanced world. Yet today, Korea once again stands at a major turning point.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and jobs. Population decline and generational conflict are threatening the sustainability of communities, while U.S.-China strategic competition and the rise of economic security are making national choices increasingly difficult. The formulas that brought success in the past are no longer sufficient to prepare for the next era.

The next goal proposed by this book is “civilizational advancement” (文明化) and the creation of an “advanced civilizational nation.” This does not simply mean becoming a high-income country. It means building a nation in which free citizens and responsible communities exist in harmony, people respect and trust one another, and innovation and prosperity can be sustained.

This is not a policy book devoted to a single field. It addresses a broad range of issues that will shape Korea’s future, including politics and the rule of law; diplomacy, security, and unification; AI, industry, trade, energy, and science and technology; welfare, labor, and education; and family and generational issues.

Under the overarching question, “What kind of country should Korea become?”, experts from various fields explore Korea’s next national strategy from different perspectives.

Part I. The Path Korea Must Take

Overview · Korea’s Path to an Advanced Civilizational Nation · 012

Part II. The Values of Liberal Democracy

Chapter 1 · Korea’s National Strategy and the Normalization of Politics · 036

Chapter 2 · Restoring the Rule of Law· 067

Part III. The Path of Self-Reliance and Unification

Chapter 3 · Alliance Diplomacy Based on Self-Reliance· 090

Chapter 4 · A Strategy for Self-Reliant Defense and Security · 113

Chapter 5 · A New North Korea Policy: Normalizing North Korea Policy · 139

Chapter 6 · A New Unification Strategy for the Korean Peninsula · 157

Part IV. The Path of Prosperity and Innovation

Chapter 7 · Restructuring the Economy and Industry in the Age of AI Transformation · 178

Chapter 8 · Korea’s External Trade Strategy in an Era of Global Transformation · 203

Chapter 9 · Energy and Resource Strategy in the AI Era · 223

Chapter 10 · A Strategy for Transforming the Science and Technology Innovation Paradigm · 243

Chapter 11 · A Theory of Hallyu Civilization · 263

Part V. The Path toward a Harmonious Community

Chapter 12 · Welfare, Pension, and Labor Strategies in the AI Era · 284

Chapter 13 · Labor Reform in the AI Era · 307

Chapter 14 · Education Reform in the AI Era · 329

Part VI. Overcoming the Demographic Crisis and Promoting Intergenerational Solidarity

Chapter 15 · The Path of New Familism· 350

Chapter 16 · Political Attitudes of the “2030 Generation”· 376