Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has successfully secured global cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) from six United Nations (UN) agencies following an intensive diplomatic mission to New York and Geneva.
On Tuesday, local time, Kim presided over a signing ceremony for a Letter of Intent (LOI) at Geneva’s InterContinental Hotel. The LOI, aimed at establishing a Global AI Hub, was signed by representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The ceremony saw South Korea’s Deputy Minister of Science and ICT, Ryu Je-myung, sign on behalf of the Korean government, alongside representatives from each UN agency, under Kim’s supervision.
Before the signing, Kim undertook a grueling diplomatic schedule to secure the agreement. On Monday, he met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York to outline South Korea’s artificial intelligence (AI) Hub initiative, which Guterres expressed interest in and support for.
Kim then held meetings with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner to garner their participation. Notably, the UNDP initially declined to sign due to internal procedures but reversed its decision after Kim’s persuasive meeting, ultimately joining through its Geneva office.
In Geneva, Kim engaged in discussions with ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo, IOM Director-General Amy Pope, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to share the vision for the Global AI Hub. All these agencies expressed their agreement with South Korea’s initiative and willingness to cooperate.
During these meetings, Kim highlighted South Korea’s unique journey, stating that the nation has transformed from an aid recipient to an information technology (IT) powerhouse. Through this global AI cooperation, it aims to support developing nations and vulnerable populations while improving the quality of life for all humanity.
He further explained tah under the AI for All vision, it will develop the Global AI Hub as a platform to advance AI technology, education, and establish ethical norms, sharing these benefits worldwide. Kim urged the international organizations to actively participate in this endeavor.
The South Korean government also pledged to take a leading role in funding the initial setup and operation of the Global AI Hub.
Despite initial uncertainty about some agencies’ participation, Kim’s persistent efforts led to the additional involvement of UNDP, ITU, and WFP, resulting in a successful signing ceremony with six participating organizations.
Building on this diplomatic success, Kim plans to convene the first Global AI Hub Steering Committee meeting and hold a public briefing around March 24 to unveil future plans for the initiative.