[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah] The paradigm of national governance is shifting. In the past, political decisiveness and political acumen were the core virtues of a leader. However, now that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industry and society, the ability to understand and execute complex systems is becoming increasingly important.

This is why Han Seong-sook, the nominee for Prime Minister, has recently drawn attention. It is not merely because of the symbolic significance of being the first female prime ministerial nominee in 20 years. Rather, it is because the hands-on leadership and experience in digital transformation she demonstrated while growing Naver into a leading platform company are presenting a new leadership model for South Korea during this era of AI transformation.

In the IT industry, Han is remembered as a “manager with a keen eye for detail.” During her tenure as CEO, she personally participated in internal messenger chats and group discussions for numerous projects to monitor progress, prioritizing the voices from the field over reports. When problems arose, she worked directly with staff to find solutions.

This is why officials and the IT industry are calling him “the hands-on prime ministerial candidate who will make ministers the most nervous.”

Understanding the Front Lines Is Key to Moving an Organization Forward

This aspect of his character has also been evident during his recent preparations for the confirmation hearing. Rather than focusing on policy promotion, he is concentrating on reviewing the economy, the budget, and pressing industrial issues. His first briefing will be with economic ministries. This is interpreted as a sign that he intends to start by examining the national finances and drivers of growth.

This aligns with habits he developed in corporate management. As the head of a platform company, he solved problems by reviewing vast amounts of data and metrics daily. Without a grasp of the numbers and the field, neither the organization nor the service can function.

Of course, a company and a nation are different. However, the need to coordinate complex organizations and diverse stakeholders remains the same. Decisions made without understanding the field are prone to falter during implementation, and strategies lacking data are likely to remain mere slogans.

In the AI era, national competitiveness ultimately stems from execution. This involves overhauling regulations, improving data utilization systems, and reducing inefficiencies in public administration to ensure that technology actually works in industrial settings. AI powerhouses are built not on declarations, but on action.

The Key Issues Raised by AI: Growth and Distribution

However, the government’s role in the AI era does not stop at fostering industry. Connecting the benefits generated by AI to the prosperity of society as a whole is also a critical task.

In a recent interview with The Economist, President Lee Jae-myung mentioned the need to return AI-generated windfall profits to society, while also pointing out that excessive regulation could stifle investment and innovation. Ultimately, a national AI strategy must pursue both innovation—which enhances industrial competitiveness—and inclusivity—which shares the benefits.

This is where nominee Han Seong-sook’s experience becomes significant. During her tenure as CEO of Naver, she led the company’s search, commerce, cloud, and AI businesses while striving to balance technology, policy, and market dynamics. Platform companies, in particular, are spaces where the interests of users, sellers, small business owners, and the government often clash. Nominee Han has experience mediating conflicts and finding common ground for cooperation within this complex ecosystem.

The national policy priorities she has outlined are “recovery of the people’s economy,” “the AI transformation,” and “structural transformation for growth for all.” This can be interpreted as a message that she intends to pursue growth and innovation alongside people’s livelihoods and inclusivity.

Of course, success in corporate management does not automatically guarantee success in governing the nation. However, in the AI era, the very experience of understanding technology and coordinating complex systems and interests can be a valuable asset.

What a prime minister needs in the AI era is not flashy speeches. It is the ability to execute. It is the attention to detail required to enhance national competitiveness and the coordination skills to ensure that the fruits of growth are shared across society. This is the essence of the expectations surrounding nominee Han Seong-sook.