Special Interview with Spencer Kim Vice President and President of Qualcomm Korea
(Featured in 2026 2Q AMCHAM Journal)

You were recently appointed President of Qualcomm Korea after more than two decades at the company. How has your career journey shaped your priorities in this new leadership role?

I joined the company when mobile technology was still at an early stage, and over the years I have seen Qualcomm evolve far beyond mobile – into AI, automotive, compute, XR, Industrial embedded IoT and intelligent connectivity. Experiencing that transformation firsthand has given me a long-term perspective on what it takes to build sustainable leadership in a fast-changing industry.

Throughout my career, I’ve learned that long-term success requires balancing strong execution today with a clear vision for tomorrow. That perspective has shaped how I approach my new role as President of Qualcomm Korea.

I’m also grateful for the trust and leadership of SVP & President of APAC O.H. Kwon, whose guidance and emphasis on long-term thinking have had a meaningful influence on my own leadership approach.

One of my key priorities in this role is staying deeply connected to our customers and partners in Korea. Having worked closely with them for many years, I’ve learned that enduring partnerships are built on trust, transparency, and consistency over time.

Another major priority is empowering our people. I strongly believe that innovation happens fastest when teams have clear direction, a sense of ownership, and the confidence to make decisions. As President, my role is to remove obstacles and create an environment where teams can perform at their best.

My career journey has also reinforced the importance of aligning Korea’s strengths with Qualcomm’s global strategy. Korea plays a critical role in shaping the future of semiconductors, devices, and AI, and I see a strong opportunity for Qualcomm Korea to continue serving as a strategic contributor to the global organization.

Finally, having experienced multiple industry cycles, I place a strong emphasis on resilience and adaptability. Technology and markets will continue to evolve rapidly, and leadership today is about preparing the organization not just to respond to change, but to lead through it.

Overall, my priorities are shaped by my experience at Qualcomm – focused on people, partnerships, and long-term impact – to ensure that Qualcomm Korea continues to grow, innovate, and lead in the years ahead.

Qualcomm has been broadening its focus beyond mobile into automotive software-defined vehicle platforms, industrial edge AI silicon, and physical AI robotics. Can you tell us about this evolution, and how this diversification strategy plays out in Korea?

Qualcomm began as a mobile technology pioneer, but today our vision extends far beyond smartphones. We see the future of computing as intelligent, connected systems powered by advanced on-device AI. As a result, Snapdragon now powers a wide range of categories including AI PCs, XR devices, software-defined vehicles, industrial IoT, edge AI platforms, and robotics. The common foundation across all of these areas is our ability to deliver high performance, power-efficient computing with advanced connectivity and integrated AI. This evolution reinforces our broader vision of extending mobile innovation into a unified platform for intelligent computing across industries.

Korea is a great example of how our diversification into computers works. The Snapdragon X series with multiple PC makers brings products to the Korean market and is competing to lead. A major driver is ecosystem readiness, with thousands of compatible apps and over a thousand native apps, making these PCs frictionless for users. We are already looking toward second generation Snapdragon X platforms to raise the bar on performance, battery life, on-device AI and expanding into more form factors as the market broadens this year.

In the automotive sector, our expansion responds to the industry shift toward software defined vehicles. With centralized AI-driven architectures becoming the standard, we are addressing this through the Snapdragon Digital Chassis, an end-to-end platform spanning connectivity, digital cockpit, ADAS, and cloud services. In Korea, this strategy closely aligns with Automotive manufacturers and strategic partner’s priorities around SDV, central compute and long-term platform collaboration, supported by a strong ecosystem across automotive, electronics and semiconductors.

Furthermore, our expansion into IoT is transforming industries through physical AI. We are also seeing strong momentum in edge AI and robotics across Korea. We are working with Samsung Electronics to reinforce on-device AI features including object detection and liquid detection on Samsung premium robot vacuum cleaner. Companies such as Hyundai Motor Group Robotics Lab are developing robotics platforms powered by Dragonwing IQ series for various types of service robots, while SK Intellix is exploring new AI-fueled wellness solutions delivering vital sign check and mobile air purification via smart AI autonomous navigation. We are also collaborating with LG Electronics on home robots while providing industrial IoT solutions for manufacturing, logistics, and retail. Working with local partners, we aim to broaden the reach of these technologies across diverse businesses.

As the industry begins laying the groundwork for 6G, while on-device AI is already transforming today’s devices, how does Qualcomm balance long-term technology leadership with near-term commercial execution in edge AI?

Long term technology leadership and near term commercial execution are not treated as trade offs, they are mutually reinforcing. Our innovations that power edge AI today are laying the foundation for the age of AI.

6G represents a generational opportunity – AI will become the foundation of every experience. Intelligence will be distributed across devices, the edge, and the cloud, enabling higher levels of efficiency and performance, new agentic consumer and enterprise devices, and new classes of AI-enabled services. It will be a completely new end to end system architecture with AI embedded natively across the network, unifying connectivity, distributed computing, and built in sensing into a single AI driven platform. As part of laying this groundwork, at MWC Barcelona 2026, we announced a new strategic coalition with leading industry partners to invest, innovate, and enable a shared vision for commercial deployment beginning around 2029.

At the same time, edge AI is already driving the shift to agentic AI experiences. Devices are becoming intelligent agents that can see, hear, decide, and act in real time. As an edge AI leader, we deliver real-time performance, personalization, and efficiency at scale across device categories and industrial systems powered by our platforms.

The ability to lead in foundational technology while delivering at commercial scale is what has defined our leadership in every wireless generation.

Qualcomm has historically played a significant role in global wireless standardization and next-generation connectivity. How does Qualcomm Korea engage in standards development and regulatory discussions, and how important is Korea’s voice in shaping emerging technologies?

Qualcomm has long played a central role in global wireless standardization, and Korea is one of the most important markets where this leadership is actively exercised. Qualcomm Korea works closely with Korean operators, industry partners, and policymakers to ensure that Korea’s advanced network environment and technical expertise are reflected in global standards discussions.

As the industry begins shaping the path toward 6G, Korea’s voice is particularly influential. Korean operators and technology leaders are not only early adopters of new technologies, but active contributors to defining future network architectures. Through close collaboration with partners such as Samsung Electronics, SK Telecom, KT, LG Electronics, and LG Uplus, Qualcomm is helping drive the transition toward AI native networks, where connectivity, computing, and intelligence are deeply integrated.

This engagement allows Korea to serve as a reference market for next generation wireless technologies, while enabling Qualcomm to translate local innovation into globally scalable platforms.

Korea is one of the world’s most advanced mobile and electronics ecosystems. How does Qualcomm Korea tailor its strategy compared to other regional markets? Are there areas where Korea plays a unique strategic role within Qualcomm’s global roadmap?

Korea holds a uniquely strategic position in our global roadmap, integrating world class leadership in smartphones, semiconductors, automotive, and consumer electronics within a single market. Our approach here is centered on collaborative development rather than simple market deployment.

A prime example is our partnership with Samsung Electronics, a global leader in mobile innovation. Qualcomm works with Samsung as a deeply strategic partner. Our collaboration goes well beyond a standard supplier relationship – from platform definition to premium customization, including the Snapdragon 8 series “For Galaxy” products that are specifically optimized for Samsung’s flagship devices. Through this partnership, Qualcomm and Samsung continue to set the pace for the Android ecosystem, bringing the most advanced performance, on-device AI, camera, display and connectivity experiences to market first. As a result, Korea serves not only as a key market, but as a global reference point for Android innovation.

Beyond mobile, Korea stands as a strategic hub shaping the future of mobility, uniquely uniting worldclass mobile, consumer electronics, and automotive ecosystems, where Qualcomm Korea drives deep co-development with OEMs and Tier 1 partners to advance software defined vehicle platforms across centralized compute, connectivity, and SDV architectures.

As Korea works toward its ambition of becoming one of the world’s leading AI economies, where do you see Qualcomm playing the most meaningful role?

As Korea advances toward becoming a leading AI-driven economy, we believe Qualcomm can play a pivotal role across the full spectrum of hybrid AI – where edge AI work seamlessly together with the cloud.

Centered around smartphones, which remain the most widely used personal devices, we are helping enable always-connected, instantly responsive AI experiences across personal AI form factors, including emerging devices such as smart glasses.

At the same time, by providing technologies that make AI faster, more reliable, and more power-efficient across homes and industries – from consumer electronics and robotics to manufacturing and smart cities – we see Qualcomm’s most important role as helping Korea’s AI ecosystem deliver real, tangible value in the field.

We are continuously discovering and engaging SMEs and startups that are developing innovative AI solutions and services. Through our global program, Qualcomm Partner Network, we help these SME and startup strengthen their presence in the global market to find business opportunities. As part of our commitment to advancing Korea’s AI ecosystem, we actively bring together customers and partners to collaborate – supporting rapid development and accelerating the journey from innovation to commercialization. Building on last year’s efforts, Qualcomm is once again participating in Everyone’s Challenge AX program led by Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) this year. Through this initiative, we aim to identify and nurture next generation AI solutions – including robotics platforms, AI glasses, and AI on premise appliances – in close collaboration with startups and Qualcomm partners.

In addition, our acquisitions of Arduino, an open hardware and software platform company, and Edge Impulse, a leading MLOps solution provider, have significantly accelerated access to Qualcomm’s technologies. Through Edge Impulse, SME and startups can easily and efficiently manage the entire AI development pipeline – from data labeling to AI model training and optimization. At the same time, Arduino platform powered by Qualcomm Dragonwing enables rapid prototyping, allowing developers to move quickly from concept to working solutions. Together, these platforms are helping startups innovate faster and bring AI ideas into real world applications with greater ease.

A key element of Qualcomm’s growth strategy is powerful collaboration. Can you tell us about some of Qualcomm Korea’s major partnerships? How do you approach building partnerships that both reflect Qualcomm’s global priorities and leverage Korea’s unique strengths?

Collaboration is the core engine of Qualcomm’s growth, and Qualcomm Korea’s partnership strategy is built around enabling on device AI across mobile, AI PCs, XR, and the broader edge ecosystem. A central pillar of this approach is our deep collaboration with Samsung, a global technology leader that plays a critical role in advancing the Android ecosystem and premium device experiences worldwide. By working closely together, we help accelerate innovation in on device AI while aligning closely with Qualcomm’s global technology and platform priorities.

Another key focus is our partnership with Korean operators, centered on enabling intelligent connectivity across devices, the edge, and the network. As on device AI becomes more capable, networks must evolve beyond basic connectivity to support distributed intelligence, low latency, and seamless interaction between devices and cloud services. Working closely with Korean operators, we explore how next generation networks can enable AI driven services, advanced edge computing, and new enterprise and consumer use cases, with Korea serving as an ideal testbed thanks to its advanced infrastructure and fast innovation cycles.

Our partnerships in Korea are also closely aligned with Qualcomm’s long term growth roadmap, particularly in automotive and IoT. In automotive, we collaborate with strategic partners to co develop software defined vehicle and ADAS platforms that can scale globally. In IoT, we work with partners such as Samsung’s Digital Appliances division, startups, and ecosystem players to advance AI enabled devices and new services. By combining Qualcomm’s global platform strategy with Korea’s engineering depth and speed of innovation, Qualcomm Korea helps shape technologies and business models that can be adopted worldwide.

Qualcomm has heavily invested in developer ecosystems through hackathons, startup programs, and edge AI initiatives. Can you tell us about the philosophy behind these initiatives? How does nurturing startups and developers strengthen Qualcomm’s platform over the long term?

Our philosophy is simple: a platform grows stronger through its ecosystem. Through hackathons, university programs, and developer initiatives, we aim to lower the barriers to innovation so more people can build on Qualcomm’s technologies.

The role of developers is evolving with AI-assisted or vibe coding, where AI becomes part of the development process. Still, human developers remain essential – they define problems, guide AI, and turn ideas into real-world solutions. That is why investing in people and communities continues to matter.

This is reflected in our recent ecosystem investments. Arduino provides one of the easiest entry points for students and startups to learn and build edge and AI solutions, while Edge Impulse makes it simple to apply AI to real-world data such as audio, images, and time-series signals. We believe both platforms will significantly support AI education and startup innovation.

As developers and startups build on Qualcomm platforms, they generate real-world use cases and feedback that help us continuously improve our technology. Over time, this virtuous cycle is what turns advanced hardware into a widely adopted, long-term platform.

The global semiconductor industry is shaped by geopolitics, supply-chain shifts, and AI acceleration. In a period of rapid change, how is Qualcomm positioning itself to remain resilient and agile in Korea?

Change is constant in the semiconductor industry, and Qualcomm is positioned to remain agile through disruption. A diversification strategy, built on a broad technology portfolio, enables the company to drive transformation across industries while moving quickly and executing with precision. By building and cultivating global technology ecosystems, Qualcomm gains early insight into market shifts, enables innovation at scale, and strengthens its ability to not only respond to change, but help define what comes next.

In response to geopolitical shifts, supply chain realignment, and rapid AI momentum, Qualcomm is proactively reinforcing platform resilience while staying highly responsive to regional needs.

By combining global platform consistency with deep local partnerships in Korea, Qualcomm remains both resilient and agile in a rapidly changing semiconductor landscape.

Korea has been positioning itself as an Asia-Pacific hub for multinational headquarters and advanced technology investment. From Qualcomm’s perspective, what strengths make Korea attractive as a regional base, and what areas of collaboration between industry and government could further enhance its competitiveness?

Korea stands out as one of the most attractive regional bases for advanced technology investment due to its unique combination of innovation, infrastructure, and ecosystem strength. It is home to globally leading companies across semiconductors, consumer electronics, automotive, and telecommunications, supported by a tech-forward consumer base. This passionate culture creates an environment where new technologies can be rapidly developed, tested, and scaled to global markets. For Qualcomm, Korea is a strategic hub where global innovation is shaped through deep collaboration with partners like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai Motor Group. Innovation here sets expectations everywhere because what we achieve together in Korea has a direct global impact.

The leadership of O.H. Kwon has consistently been viewed as a cornerstone of its Asia-Pacific strategy. His long-standing engagement with industry leaders and policymakers contributes to positioning Korea as Asia-Pacific headquarters for advanced technologies, particularly in Edge AI, connectivity, next generation mobile and computing. One example of the commitment is Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators 2025 APAC Demo Day which was held in Seoul. The event brought together startups from Japan, Singapore and Korea showcasing Edge AI solutions by leveraging Snapdragon platforms and Qualcomm Dragonwing, and reinforcing Korea’s role as a regional hub for innovation and cross-border collaboration.

Partnership with AMCHAM Korea also plays an important role in this journey. Through close collaboration with AMCHAM, Qualcomm Korea has been able to actively engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and the broader business community to highlight how U.S. companies contribute to Korea’s technology ecosystem and economic growth. Platforms such as the AMCHAM Inaugural Ball 2026 demonstrate how these partnerships help bring industry, government, and global companies together, showcasing real-world innovation across AI, mobility, and digital services while fostering meaningful dialogue and new opportunities for collaboration. Under the leadership of James Kim, AMCHAM continues to serve as a vital bridge connecting ecosystems and amplifying the role of global companies in shaping Korea’s future.

By aligning around a shared vision of intelligent computing everywhere, and through sustained collaboration between industry, government, and organizations like AMCHAM, Korea is well positioned to further solidify its role as a premier technology and innovation hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Looking ahead, what is one goal for Qualcomm that you are especially excited about?

We are at an inflection point where AI is no longer confined to data centers, but is becoming distributed – running on devices, at the edge, and across intelligent networks. Qualcomm is uniquely positioned to enable that shift because of our leadership in efficient compute, connectivity, and system-level integration.

What excites me most is turning this architectural advantage into real-world scale. This means making AI pervasive and practical – powering smartphones, PCs, Automotives, industrial & embedded IoT, and next-generation AI agents, all while maintaining high performance, low power, and security.

A key part of this journey is the evolution toward AI-native networks and 6G. Beyond faster connectivity, 6G represents a platform where connectivity, compute, and sensing are deeply integrated, enabling entirely new classes of applications and services.

At the same time, Qualcomm’s expansion into data center and cloud-to-edge AI including robotics creates a powerful continuum – where workloads can move seamlessly across devices, edge infrastructure, and the cloud based on latency, cost, and efficiency requirements.

What makes this goal especially compelling is the ecosystem dimension. Qualcomm doesn’t innovate in isolation. Our success comes from working closely with partners across industries to build platforms, standards, and solutions that scale globally.

Ultimately, the goal is not just to participate in the AI transformation, but to shape it – by making intelligent computing more accessible, more efficient, and more impactful for businesses, developers, and consumers worldwide.