- High-level meetings in Washington, New York, and Geneva to advance South Korea’s proposal and strengthen cooperation with global institutions
SEOUL: Kim Min-seok is scheduled to depart for the United States on Thursday for a week-long diplomatic mission aimed at promoting South Korea’s bid to host a proposed United Nations artificial intelligence hub and strengthening strategic cooperation with international partners.
During the visit, the prime minister is expected to meet senior U.S. officials in Washington, including a possible meeting with JD Vance. The discussions may cover key bilateral issues such as trade tariffs and legislative support linked to South Korea’s planned US$350 billion investment commitment in the United States.
Kim’s visit comes as the South Korean government actively campaigns to host the tentatively named “U.N. AI Hub,” an initiative designed to bring together United Nations agencies alongside South Korea’s public and private sectors to develop artificial intelligence–driven solutions to global challenges.
Sources indicate that arrangements are underway for a meeting between Kim and Vice President Vance during his stay in Washington. The two leaders previously met in January in the U.S. capital, where they discussed economic cooperation and strategic partnership.
Following his meetings in Washington, Kim will travel to New York, where he is scheduled to visit key United Nations institutions, including the United Nations, UNICEF, and the United Nations Development Programme. During these engagements, he plans to meet with senior officials, including Antonio Guterres, to present South Korea’s vision for the proposed AI hub and explore avenues for international collaboration.
The diplomatic tour will conclude in Geneva, Switzerland, where Kim will hold consultations with representatives of major global organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, and the International Organization for Migration. Discussions there will focus on how artificial intelligence could support solutions to global health, labor, and migration challenges.
Earlier this week, Kim Min-seok was appointed head of South Korea’s U.N. AI Hub Bid Committee, further underscoring the government’s commitment to positioning the country as a leading global center for innovation, technology governance, and multilateral cooperation.
BY: The Times Union
