Lee, ILO chief discuss S. Korea's global AI hub initiative

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung and International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert Houngbo met at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Friday to discuss the ILO’s involvement in South Korea’s global artificial intelligence hub initiative. President Lee welcomed the ILO’s participation, highlighting its role in addressing AI’s impact on global employment trends and improving labor conditions, which he noted have influenced South Korean labor unions for decades. The AI hub initiative, announced by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Thursday, aims to tackle escalating inequality in AI access, humanitarian crises like food security and climate change, and workplace concerns from AI-driven job displacement. The ILO will focus on labor-related policies and administration within the hub, with Director-General Houngbo praising Seoul’s rapid progress and government commitment. Houngbo also acknowledged South Korea’s status as one of the top 10 contributors to the ILO and expressed admiration for the country’s leadership in launching the initiative. The meeting followed Prime Minister Kim’s discussions with UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo, who joined the initiative, marking a new phase of cooperation between South Korea and the UNDP. The global AI hub initiative seeks to unite international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration and the International Telecommunication Union, to ensure equitable AI development and mitigate its societal impacts. Houngbo’s visit to South Korea in 2019 underscores the long-standing partnership, reinforcing the country’s role as a key player in shaping global AI governance and labor policy.