Minister Baek Kyunghoon: "AI Is the Key to a Better Future"

Global Digital and AI Forum Follows APEC Ministers' Meeting
Member Economies and Global Companies Gather in One Place
Exploring Cooperation in the AI Era with Three Key Themes:
Connectivity, Inclusion, and Innovation

Science and ICT Minister Paik Kyun delivering the opening remarks at the APEC Global Digital and AI Forum on the 5th. Photo by Park Yujin

On August 5, Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyunghoon stated, "Artificial Intelligence (AI) may bring about problems in the face of complex challenges such as an aging population and the digital divide, but it can also be the key to a better future." In his opening remarks at the 'APEC Global Digital·AI Forum' held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Incheon on the same day, Minister Baek expressed, "I hope this will be a vibrant venue for communication, connecting technology and policy, and bringing people together."

This forum was organized as an extension of the discussions from the APEC Digital Ministers' Meeting held the previous day, and was co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the World Bank. Senior representatives from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies and private sector experts attended in large numbers to share the current status of the digital·AI ecosystem and to discuss cooperative measures for designing an inclusive and innovative future.

Under the theme 'Preparing for APEC's Innovative Digital Future,' the forum consisted of three sessions: ▲ Strengthening digital connectivity and resilience ▲ Innovative digital public services for inclusion ▲ AI innovation across APEC.

The first session focused on the role of AI and digital technologies in bridging the digital divide and enhancing social resilience. Song Sanghoon, Director General for ICT Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, delivered the keynote speech, and representatives from major companies and organizations such as Google, SK, Amazon Web Services, and Taiwan's CyCraft participated as panelists.

In the second session, Song Jizhun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, gave a keynote address on innovation in public digital services. Panelists from LG CNS, the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, and the World Bank discussed ways in which digital technology can help address social inequality.

The final session addressed solutions for tackling global challenges through AI innovation. Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, delivered the keynote speech, and representatives from major companies and academia, including Microsoft, Meta, NVIDIA, and Rebellion, participated.

The corporate exhibition held alongside the forum featured a variety of digital technologies such as generative AI, voice interpretation, and smart payment systems. Both domestic companies such as Naver, Kakao, SKT, ESTsoft, and Konan Technology, as well as global companies like Google, Meta, and Visa, took part in the exhibition.

Minister Baek stated, "This forum was a meaningful occasion where the government, businesses, and international organizations came together to explore strategies for digital·AI innovation and response." He added, "I hope that a wide range of stakeholders in the international community will closely cooperate in jointly designing the digital future."