Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who has been visiting the United States since the 12th, is actively engaging in activities to support the establishment of a global AI hub by visiting the UN headquarters, UNICEF, and UNDP in New York. On the 16th, he met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to emphasize the importance of strengthening multilateralism led by the UN and reiterated South Korea’s commitment to contributing to resolving the common challenges faced by the international community.
Kim expressed South Korea’s desire to contribute to AI multilateral cooperation at both the technological and normative levels and sought UN support for dialogue with North Korea and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Secretary-General Guterres praised the South Korean government’s policies, including its North Korea policy, and expressed support for South Korea’s efforts in global AI hub initiatives, pledging continued cooperation in this sector.
Further meetings were held with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo. In discussions, Prime Minister Kim highlighted South Korea’s position as a leading nation in IT and democracy, expressing intentions to share its experiences in AI-related technology, norms, and education with UNICEF. Russell acknowledged the significance of South Korea’s global AI hub vision and expressed willingness to actively participate, emphasizing the importance of considering safety, responsibility, and ethics from the perspective of children and vulnerable groups.
In a meeting with De Croo, Prime Minister Kim introduced the global AI hub initiative as part of South Korea’s contribution to the new agenda of the international order, hoping to establish a collaborative relationship with UNDP’s expertise. De Croo welcomed South Korea’s initiative, appreciating its role as a major donor in global development cooperation.
Following his U.S. visit, Prime Minister Kim will continue AI hub support activities in Geneva, Switzerland, meeting with leaders of international organizations such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO), and International Organization for Migration (IOM).