South Korea's National AI Strategy Committee said on Feb. 4 that its vice chair, Lim Moon-young (임문영), attended the World Governments Summit (WGS), a top-level public-private international meeting being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Feb. 2, and shared Korea's AI transition strategy and vision for global cooperation.

Lim delivered a keynote speech at the WGS on Feb. 3 (local time) on "Korea's democracy and AI transition." He stressed that the spirit of "democratising knowledge" through the world's first metal movable type and the creation of Hangul has become the foundation that has led Korea to become an IT powerhouse and an AX country.

"AI is a turning point in civilisation as great as the invention of writing," Lim said. "Korea will contribute to universal prosperity for humanity through a Korean-style AX model that introduces AI across all industries, based on AI ethical norms that safeguard democratic values," he added.

During the visit, Lim held a series of meetings with senior UAE figures and global big tech companies.

On Feb. 3, he met Salem Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), and discussed ways to cooperate on next-generation space exploration, revitalising the startup ecosystem and sharing space data. Later that afternoon, he met Simon De Montfort Walker, senior vice president at Oracle, and explained Korea's core AI strategy and discussed ways to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation with global big tech firms.

On Feb. 4, Lim met Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE's minister of state for artificial intelligence, and discussed ways to expand a Korea-UAE strategic AI partnership. The two sides agreed to push cooperation centred on five public-private joint AI working groups newly set up following President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to the UAE in November last year. They will also jointly respond to AI security and ethics issues raised recently following the AI agent social media platform "Moltbook."

Lim also discussed cooperation on AI infrastructure and model development with Mansour Al Mansouri, CEO of G42, the UAE's largest AI company. He exchanged views on future AI technology policy with Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). He also toured the "Museum of the Future" operated by the Dubai Future Foundation.

"This visit to Dubai served as an opportunity to declare that Korea is a country that restores democratic values and leads global norms and values in the AI era," Lim said. "Through close solidarity with the UAE, we will create an environment in which our companies can compete confidently in the global market," he added.