Yoon Suk Yeol calls for universal digital order at NYU

Diplomacy

Published: 22 Sep. 2023, 18:17 Updated: 23 Sep. 2023, 19:47

Yoon Suk Yeol calls for universal digital order at NYU

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a keynote speech at the Digital Vision Forum at New York University’s John Paulson Center in New York on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol in New York called for a new universal digital order to counter the spread of disinformation and the malicious misuse of digital technologies, which are proving a threat to liberal democracy.

"If we fail to counter the spread of disinformation fueled by the malicious misuse of AI and digital technologies, it could threaten liberal democracy, put market economies based on liberal democracy at risk and jeopardize our future and the lives of future generations," Yoon said in a keynote address during a visit to New York University (NYU) Thursday.

This marked his second consecutive year taking part in a digital vision forum at NYU, during a trip to New York this week to attend the UN General Assembly and hold a relay of bilateral summits.

South Korea will unveil a Digital Bill of Rights that will "serve as the international community's compass to navigate the era of deepening digitalization" by setting out five guiding principles, Yoon said at the New York Digital Vision Forum.

The bill will outline the fundamental principles of guaranteeing freedom and rights, fair access and equal opportunities, safety and trust, promoting digital innovation and improving human welfare.

Yoon said that the emergence of generative AI, including ChatGPT, has brought more convenience and productivity but also is raising global concerns about the trustworthiness and safety of AI.

"There are growing concerns that the digital divide may serve to undermine human dignity and that the proliferation of disinformation may threaten democracy and freedom," Yoon said, calling these "very real risks" that require immediate attention.

He said that during the Korea-Asean summit held in Jakarta earlier this month, Korea pledged to invest $30 million for a "digital innovation flagship project" to ensure fair digital access and enhanced welfare for Southeast Asian countries.

Korea is committed to "ensuring that the digital transformation leaves no country behind and that all nations can enjoy the benefits of digital technology together," Yoon said.

He noted that on the same day, Korea and New York University signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand AI research and business collaborations.

On Thursday, three Korean institutions — KAIST, the Korea Software Industry Association and the Institute for Information Communication Technology Planning and Evaluation — signed an MOU on an AI and digital business partnership with New York University to collaborate on research and development, human resource training and commercialization of the AI and digital technology.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, claps during a commemorative photo taken with New York University President Linda Mills, third from right, and the heads of KAIST, the Korea Software Industry Association and the Institute for Information Communication Technology Planning and Evaluation at New York University on Thursday. The three Korean institutions signed a memorandum of understanding on an AI and digital business partnership with New York University that day. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The presidential office said in a statement that this MOU was a "stepping stone to solidify the solidarity between Korea and New York University in the AI and digital fields, and for researchers and companies from both countries to be able to expand globally together."

This year's forum was hosted by former U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark Lippert for a second year, and attended by students, NYU President Linda Mills, Korean academics including President Lee Kwang-hyung and other leading scholars in the field.

Last year, Yoon proposed the so-called New York initiative in his visit to NYU, emphasizing the need for a new digital order in the era of deepening digitalization.

"Korea, along with the United States and China, is currently seen as one of the three major powerhouses with a huge AI industry ecosystem," Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, said in a briefing in New York.

"By combining New York's financial startup infrastructure and New York University's research capabilities, a Manhattan cluster similar to the Boston biotech cluster is expected to be established and lead the global AI field," Choi said. "Korea has decided to be a partner from the beginning of the process of creating the Manhattan Cluster."

He said reaching a Korea-U.S. AI digital business partnership means that Korea and the United States have established a path for cooperation across the AI sector, from human resources training to research and development and commercialization.

"In short, the foundation for AI solidarity between Korea and the United States has been established," Choi said.

"In the past, Korea received support from advanced countries to bridge the development gap," Choi added. "Now, we will take the lead in bridging the global digital gap."

In his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Yoon raised concerns over the divide in three key areas — development, climate and digital — and said that Korea will play a leading role in establishing global governance to eliminate the digital divide.

Yoon also spoke to regional security issues, warning that an arms deal between North Korea and Russia would be a "direct provocation" against the South.

He stressed that South Korea, elected as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2024 to 2025 term, "will not stand by idly" and is committed to playing a "responsible role in promoting and building global peace."

Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee, left, shows Paraguayan first lady Leticia Ocampos, second from right, a scented candle that she made as the two sides exchanged gifts, with President Yoon Suk Yeol, second from left, and President Santiago Pena, right, looking on after a bilateral luncheon in New York on Thursday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Since Monday, Yoon also held bilateral talks with the leaders of more than 40 countries in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly as a part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation and promote Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan.

Yoon held bilateral meetings with 11 more leaders Thursday, from countries including Ecuador, Mongolia, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Nepal, Slovenia and Haiti.

First lady Kim Keon Hee, right, speaks with a Korean designer at Coterie New York, an international fashion fair held at Javits Center in New York Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The last-ditch diplomatic efforts to drum up support for Busan's World Expo bid comes ahead of the Bureau International des Expositions' final selection of the host country by a secret ballot in November. Busan is up against Italy's Rome and Saudi Arabia's Riyadh.

First lady Kim Keon Hee also took part in Expo bid diplomatic efforts and visited Coterie New York, an international fashion fair at Javits Center, and offered encouragement to Korean designers and emphasized their role in promoting K-fashion, the presidential office said.

Yoon and Kim wrapped up their six-day trip and returned to Korea on Saturday evening.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and first lady Kim Keon-hee arrive at Seoul Air Base in Gyeonggi on Saturday, wrapping a six-day trip to New York to attend the UN General Assembly. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]