Baek Kyung-hoon (배경훈), deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, met International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin in Seoul on Wednesday and discussed ways to expand digital cooperation between Korea and the ITU.

Bogdan-Martin visited South Korea to attend a Global AI Hub Vision proclamation event held earlier in the day. The two sides agreed that expanding universal connectivity, narrowing the digital divide and using AI safely and inclusively are important tasks for the international community. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in AI and digital fields.

Baek said South Korea has maintained a cooperative relationship for more than 70 years since joining the ITU in 1952, and has contributed to the ITU's three sectors including radiocommunication, telecommunication standardization and development as a nine-term council member. He stressed that sustained practical cooperation with the ITU, based on South Korea's experience in the world's first 5G commercialization, its participation in 6G standardization and projects to strengthen information and communications technology capabilities in developing countries, could deliver meaningful results in spreading AI and digital technologies inclusively.

Baek said, "We will work closely with the international community so the benefits of AI and digital technologies can spread evenly across the world," adding, "We will contribute to building an inclusive global AI and digital ecosystem."