South Korea is accustomed to being in the forefront of emerging technologies. It has a formidable hi-tech base centered on companies like Samsung and LG, and financially bolstered by government support; its administration regularly ploughs eye-watering sums into hi-tech R&D and capabilities; and it has a population that is famous for its hunger for new digital gadgets and experiences. But like all countries, South Korea remains reliant on a network of global partners to sustain its hi-tech business, and like most major economies, the geopolitical tensions of the 2020s are driving it to seek greater self-sufficiency in critical technologies such as 5G, AI and future ‘6G’. Its latest move is a 20-year plan, with funding of $470 billion, to build…