This study aims to explore various possible future societies and individuals based on the strategic foresight approach. Particularly, we explore key future drivers related to 'intelligent technological advancements' and 'living space changes,' which are key pillars that affect the well-being of individuals and the formation of social relationships in the future. In particular, this study aims to explore a wide range of future scenarios by considering the interaction between key drivers that trigger various possibilities of future individual lives and social changes due to intelligent technology development and living space changes. And, based on the understandings of various future social possibilities that can be faced from the perspective of individual lives, this study aims to explore strategic alternatives and policy options for the transition to a preferred future.
The main steps for this study consist of 1) setting and defining focus future drivers of change and question, 2) exploring and identifying utilize and emerging issues, 3) analyzing interrelationships between future drivers of change, 4) Listing up key future drivers and developing plausible future scenarios, and 5) interpreting future scenarios and exploring strategic alternatives against scenarios. To accomplish these key research steps, we utilize and combine various research methodologies(quantitative and qualitative methods). Based on this approach, this study examines the various future possibilities that Korean society will face under the complex interaction of various future change drivers and emerging issues unfolding at the global level, and interprets the future landscapes of societies from the perspective of individual lives.
The exploration of various possible futures allows us to proactively design the futures, rather than passively react to future changes. It is time for individuals, families, communities, and societies to think together about what future path we should take. Through the analysis, this study drew a wide range of plausible future scenarios that Korean society and individuals can face as 1) a dependent individual in the technocracy-driven trust society, 2) a self-directed individual in the cooperative pluralistic society, 3)a self-reliant individual in the fragmented and fractured society, and 4) an isolated individual in the intelligent solutionist society. Furthermore, based on the understandings of the opportunities and risks identified in the various future scenarios, this study sought to provide strategic responses and policy options to respond to the various future conditions and facilitate the transition to the preferred future. In doing so, this study expects to contribute to the systematic exploration of the various pathways of future possibilities that our society may face and to broaden the range of policy and strategic options to respond appropriately.