Sejin Kim
Associate Director, Center for Korean Innovation and Competitiveness
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Sejin Kim is a tech policy analyst specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and semiconductors for ITIF's Center for Korean Innovation and Competitiveness. Drawing on technology journalism experience bridging South Korean and U.S. tech ecosystems, she brings cross-cultural insights into national competitiveness and policy dynamics.
As a New York-based correspondent for The Miilk, a cross-border tech outlet headquartered in Silicon Valley, Kim has established herself as a trusted voice in technology journalism. She has led coverage of crucial technological agendas including autonomous economics, robotics, GLP-1, space tech, data centers, and the evolution of AI content creation technology moving toward "zero marginal cost." Her work includes notable interviews with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, Space Capital Managing Partner Chad Anderson, Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy, and "Chip War" author Chris Miller.
Previously, Kim served as a journalist for CoinDesk Korea and D.STREET, a blockchain-focused publication of the Mae-Kyung Media Group, where she developed deep expertise in cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Notable publications include 'On the Recent Development of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC): Some Thoughts and Analysis' (December 2020, listed in Reuters Refinitiv), 'WeMix, Web3 Gaming and Ethics' (January 2023), 'Web3 Wave' (September 2022), and '2025 Global Tech Trends: 17 of The Trend Revolution is Coming' (November 2024).
Recent Publications
South Korean Policy in the Trump and China Era: Broad-Based Technological Innovation, Not Just Export-Led Growth
In the Trump and China era, South Korea must move beyond export-led growth. Scaling up small firms and boosting productivity in services must be national imperatives.
From Fast Follower to Innovation Leader: Restructuring South Korea’s Technology Regulation
South Korea stands at a crossroads as its restrictive “positive regulation” and “shadow regulations” stifle innovation in AI, crypto, and mobility tech, allowing China to race ahead. Korea must modernize this framework or risk losing its position as a global innovation leader.
Recent Events and Presentations
ITIF-KAIST Forum on Korean Strategic Technology and Innovation
At the ITIF-KAIST Joint Forum, a distinguished group of experts confronted the turbulence stemming from the Trump administration’s strategic direction and explore critical questions surrounding technology sovereignty. The discussions also focused on practical pathways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the US and the Republic of Korea (ROK).
AI × Business: How Generative AI Is Reshaping Industries
Sejin Kim speaks on how generative AI is unlocking new business models, why the U.S. ecosystem moves so quickly, and how Korea can position itself as a world-class builder of AI-native applications.
