Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT: "The Government Will Step Up to Ensure AI Safety and Sustainability"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, stated on the 22nd, "We will seek concrete and practical measures to ensure AI safety and sustainable AI development."

At the ministerial session of the AI Seoul Summit held at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Minister Lee said in his welcoming remarks, "We will discuss the necessary role of the government to secure resilience against the adverse effects and side effects of AI and to ensure sustainable development."

Minister Lee emphasized, "Since meeting Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, in Bletchley last year, generative AI has developed at a pace beyond our expectations over the past six months, bringing new innovations to daily life, the economy, and society as a whole. As concerns about AI risks and side effects have grown in the international community, efforts to establish global norms, such as the 'Hiroshima AI Process' and the 'UN General Assembly AI Resolution,' have been actively initiated."

He continued, "As a result of expanding the scope of governance discussions to include not only AI safety but also innovation and inclusion at the leaders' session of the AI Seoul Summit held yesterday, the leaders' agreement document, the 'Seoul Declaration,' was announced. We will strive to achieve meaningful outcomes at today's ministerial session that can contribute to the establishment of global AI norms and governance."

Meanwhile, the ministerial session of the AI Seoul Summit was attended by 19 countries including Korea, the UK, Rwanda, China, Spain, Japan, Germany, the Philippines, the European Union (EU), Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, T?rkiye, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). From the corporate sector, OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Microsoft, Meta, Samsung Electronics, SK Telecom, and LG AI Research Institute participated in the ministerial session.