Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) invited Lee Joon Ho, Vice President of Huawei Korea, as the speaker for the 648th Kookmin University Thursday Special Lecture held on Thursday, September 11, at the Kookmin University Academic Conference Hall. Vice President Lee, speaking on the topic “China No Longer Pursues Korea,” highlighted the realities Korea faces amid the rise of China's ICT industry and the global competitive landscape, emphasizing the role of future generations.

Recalling his early days at Samsung Aerospace, Vice President Lee stated, “The choices we make at the time may not always be the best path. That's why choosing a path others don't see can open new opportunities.” He then explained his decision to join Huawei, opening his lecture by saying, “In an era where the world is interconnected and interdependent, gaining experience at a global ICT company is choosing the future.”

Subsequently, the Vice President highlighted China's rapid economic growth and its power struggle with the United States, particularly emphasizing that with the advent of the AI era, Chinese companies now dominate the top ranks of AI patent rankings. He analyzed that Chinese ICT companies, including Huawei, are building ecosystems encompassing hardware, software, and services, and are driving innovation through massive R&D investments. This, he stated, demonstrates they are not merely catching up but have already ascended to a leading position.

He further illustrated China's underlying strength through competitive examples in semiconductors, electric vehicles, and big tech companies, stating, “China is not a country fearfully catching up; it is already ahead of us.” He issued a warning that if Korean society remains stuck in the perception that ‘China is chasing from behind,’ it risks falling behind instead. At the lecture's conclusion, Vice President Lee urged students: “The era of succeeding by being cheap, fast, and imitative is over.” He stressed the need for continuous learning, fearless challenges, and a global perspective. He further emphasized, “In the AI era, we must become integrative talents who not only learn technology but also understand how that technology transforms society and entire industries.”

Kookmin University's Thursday Special Lecture, the nation's first and longest-running weekly regular lecture series featuring external speakers, has hosted approximately 650 speakers from diverse fields including politics, society, science, and culture over the past 30 years. Notable figures include former President Roh Moo Hyun, Cardinal Kim Sou Hwan, writer  Ryu Si Min, filmmaker Park Chan Wook, National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye Kyun, and former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert.