China's tech edge forces South Korea to rethink industrial ties

China's rapid technological advances and aggressive pricing are eroding profitable industrial synergies with South Korea, prompting experts to call for a strategic pivot. At a Beijing forum co-hosted by Renmin University and the South Korean embassy, Seo Bong-kyo, head of Samsung Global Research China, urged both nations to build interdependent ecosystems in high-growth sectors like batteries and artificial intelligence. He emphasized re-evaluating core strengths for a synergistic global supply chain and noted that China's domestic demand expansion opens high-value markets for South Korean firms. Speakers also advocated for an upgraded free-trade agreement. Economic ties between Beijing and Seoul, a key US ally, have slowly recovered from a downturn following the 2017 THAAD deployment.