Quantum Technology
Quantum Is Next Battleground After AI
Dong-A Ilbo |
Updated 2026.05.13
International Quantum Industry Exhibition-Conference IQT… Asia’s first edition to be held in Korea this November
Active applications in computing, communications, and sensor industries… Enormous economic impact expected once commercialized
“A 2–3 year golden window to secure core capabilities”
Active applications in computing, communications, and sensor industries… Enormous economic impact expected once commercialized
“A 2–3 year golden window to secure core capabilities”
Lee Dong-heon, president of the Korean Quantum Information Science Society (left), and Han Sang-wook, head of the Quantum Application Research Program at KIST, are interviewed at the Dong-A Ilbo headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th. Photo by reporter Lee Han-gyul always@donga.com
The global quantum industry exhibition and conference IQT (Inside Quantum Technology) will be held in Korea, the first time in Asia. The Korean Quantum Information Science Society (Quantum Society) announced on the 12th that it will host 2026 IQT KOREA from November 25 to 27 at Songdo Convensia in Incheon.Han Sang-wook, head of the Quantum Application Research Program at KIST and chair of the organizing committee for IQT KOREA, said, “At this early stage of the quantum industry, the Quantum Society felt it should contribute to building the domestic quantum industry ecosystem, which led us to bring in IQT, an industry-focused conference,” adding, “Quantum technology is moving rapidly from the realm of science into the stage of industrial competition, and this is the time for Korea to formulate a more precise industrial strategy.”
IQT is an international event that has been showcasing quantum technologies and products mainly in Northern Europe and North America. This year’s event will also feature participation by quantum big tech firms such as IBM and Google, as well as specialized startups including PsiQuantum, Pasqal, and Quantum Machines, which will provide the latest information on quantum technologies and insights into industrial applications.
During the conference period, an investment promotion session connecting domestic researchers with overseas investors will also be held. Start-ups and spin-offs from universities and research institutes will present their research, and 10 domestic and overseas investment institutions, including global venture capital (VC) firms and Korea Investment Partners, will attend. Local governments preparing for designation as quantum clusters are also cited as key participants.
● Quantum technology penetrating industrial sites
Despite various technical limitations and uncertainties, many scientists and companies focus on quantum technologies because of the enormous economic impact expected once they are commercialized. Quantum computing, which harnesses quantum phenomena, is expected to deliver computational speed and complexity that are difficult to achieve with existing computing architectures.
In particular, research results demonstrating the potential application of quantum computing in new materials and drug development have been published one after another, raising expectations. Han explained, “In the drug development phase, reactions between substances must be calculated at the atomic level, but with conventional computers, the processing time is excessively long, which poses a limit,” adding, “There are growing efforts to increase efficiency by using quantum computers to select only high-potential candidate substances for experimentation.” Beyond new materials and drug discovery, attempts to apply quantum technologies are expanding across a range of industrial fields such as financial investment and logistics optimization.
As concerns grow that high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) could be exploited for hacking, the development and adoption of quantum security technologies are also accelerating. “GPS-free navigation” using quantum sensors is also regarded as a quantum technology nearing completion. Quantum sensors measure inertia, rotation, and magnetic fields of objects, making it possible to determine location without the Global Positioning System (GPS). For this reason, they are being discussed for potential use in military applications, such as submarines that currently must periodically surface to receive GPS signals.
● ‘First mover’ opportunity for Korea
The Quantum Society views the next two to three years as a golden window to secure leadership in quantum technology. With major big tech firms targeting 2030 for the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers (FTQC), the assessment is that core capabilities must be secured before then.
Lee Dong-heon, a professor at Korea University and president of the Quantum Society, said, “It is not necessary to possess everything from A to Z in quantum technology,” adding, “As in the case of the semiconductor industry, securing competitiveness in specific segments alone can be enough to become a next-generation blue chip.” Among the many elements required to put quantum computing into practical use, Korea should strengthen capabilities in technologies where global companies may conclude that “it is best to partner with Korea in this particular field.”
Han said, “Rather than a few companies or countries monopolizing quantum technologies, it is highly likely that the global quantum community will move in a direction of jointly bringing forward the timing of commercialization,” adding, “Focusing on this collaborative model, it is necessary to build a foundation on which domestic and overseas research institutes, large corporations, and start-ups can pool their strengths to co-develop quantum technologies.”
Kim Hyeon-ji
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
ⓒ dongA.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction, redistribution, or use for AI training prohibited.
Popular News
