Commentary
Sputnik moment
The columnist writes that new technologies often meet resistance from established interests, citing examples from ride-hailing, home-sharing and historical innovations from printing to railways. He describes the “Sputnik moment” as a shock from a rival that triggers major investment and rapid technological progress, citing the U.S. response to the Soviet Sputnik launch and China’s push after AlphaGo-era defeats. He says AI’s resurgence also marked such a moment and hopes Korea can create its own.
