The concept of the “metaverse,” broadly defined as the use of advanced technology to create a boundless virtual reality, is nothing new, but has recently attracted worldwide attention. Following Facebook’s ambitious announcement that it would change its name to “Meta” and build its own “metaverse,” tech and entertainment firms around the world have jumped on the metaverse bandwagon. Although the metaverse is still in its infancy, it will grow overnight as a result of the race for technological supremacy. This then raises a simple yet intriguing question: Are nation states ready for this next digital revolution?
Needless to say, countries with technological prowess have the first-mover advantage. South Korea’s capital Seoul has taken the lead and announced a five-year plan to transform itself into “Metaverse Seoul.” Through the metaverse platform, users…
