Seoul Official Proposes 'National Dividend' to Share AI Industry Gains

The South Korean government, through a senior presidential official, has boldly proposed a "national dividend" scheme, injecting a new dimension into the ongoing discourse surrounding the equitable distribution of profits from the burgeoning artificial intelligence industry. This initiative, articulated by Kim Yong-beom, Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Affairs, suggests channeling the substantial tax revenues anticipated from tech giants like Samsung and SK Hynix into a fund for societal benefit. The Hankyoreh views this as a crucial step towards acknowledging that the fruits of the AI revolution should not be confined to a select few.

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The harvest of the AI infrastructure era is not the result of specific companies alone. It emerges from the industrial foundation built by the entire nation over half a century. Therefore, a portion of that harvest must be systematically returned to all citizens.

Kim's proposal, articulated on Facebook, posits that the "harvest" from the AI infrastructure era is not the sole creation of individual companies but is built upon decades of national industrial development and public contribution. Therefore, a portion of these gains, termed "national dividends," should be systematically returned to the entire populace. This perspective underscores a fundamental belief that the infrastructure enabling AI's success—including national power grids, communication networks, and the vast datasets generated by citizens—forms a collective asset. The potential for these AI-driven profits to translate into significant excess tax revenue, potentially exceeding the government's initial projections, makes the discussion about its allocation particularly timely and relevant.

The rationale behind the national dividend is rooted in addressing the potential societal fallout of the AI era, such as deepening economic polarization and job displacement. By earmarking these excess revenues for long-term asset management, akin to Norway's sovereign wealth fund, South Korea could build a robust social safety net for the future. The Hankyoreh supports the idea of exploring legal and institutional frameworks that allow citizens to share in these extraordinary profits, whether through dedicated funds or additional taxation. This proactive approach is essential to mitigate the risks associated with unchecked technological advancement and ensure a more inclusive economic future.

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If South Korea's strategic position in the AI supply chain creates a structural boom, leading to excess tax revenue, how to use that money is not a matter of choice, but a matter of design that must be considered.

While the exact mechanisms for implementing such a dividend require extensive social consensus, the very proposal signifies a critical shift in thinking. It challenges the conventional notion that corporate profits are solely the domain of shareholders and employees, advocating instead for a broader definition of stakeholders that includes the entire nation. The Hankyoreh believes that engaging in this public deliberation is not merely an option but a necessity as South Korea navigates the transformative landscape of the AI-driven economy.

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The AI industry operates on national infrastructure like power and communication networks, and data created by citizens. However, its fruits often go only to key stakeholders like company shareholders and executives, while many citizens risk being more exposed to the harms of deepening polarization and job losses.