▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks while receiving policy briefings from government agencies, including the industry ministry, on Aug. 4, 2026, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap)

(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks in last 2 paras)

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that an upheaval driven by artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global industrial landscape, stressing the need for "bold" and "speedy" investments to respond to such changes.

The president made the remarks at the opening of policy briefings by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resource, the environment ministry and other government agencies.

"The world is now undergoing a major upheaval as the industrial structure is being reshaped around AI," Lee said. "At times like this, what we need are bold decisions and investments, as well as speedy decisions."

Lee stressed the importance of building South Korea's own competitive edge, saying it is the government's role to identify trends, design for the future and lay the foundation for innovation.

He said securing a firm industrial growth potential and a strong energy security system is key to building a country that can withstand changes in the external environment.

The president, in particular, underscored the need to avoid relying on certain countries or markets, saying that the government should work tirelessly to diversify export markets and supply chains.

In a separate session receiving policy briefings from the antitrust watchdog, the labor ministry and other agencies, Lee instructed the Korea Fair Trade Commission to thoroughly crack down on market irregularities, including price rigging and market manipulation.

"A fair, trustworthy market is the foundation of a normal society," Lee said.

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