The Korean approach to Industry 4.0: the 4th Industrial Revolution from regional perspectives

Abstract

Today the concept of Industry 4.0 has been widely adopted by many countries. It is rather a narrow concept, compared to that of 4th Industrial Revolution, which presumes a wide impact on the national economy and society. The Korean approach to the Industry 4.0 is the 4th Industrial Revolution. The Korean government established the 'Presidential Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution' (PCFIR) and has initiated major agendas related to the Industry 4.0. One of the 'Committee's' major agendas is the diffusion of smart factories, which play an important role in the Industry 4.0. However, the Korean approach to the 4th Industrial Revolution has been difficult to be successfully implemented because regional governments have not participated in the 'Presidential Committee'. Smart factories have diffused unevenly since Korea's R&D potential, which needed for their adoption, have been concentrated in Seoul, Gyeonggi and a few industrialized regions. Korea needs to take these points into consideration in its implementation of the 4th Industrial Revolution in the future.