InterviewUNICEF executive director visits Seoul to discuss AI hub partnership

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell speaks during a meeting with Korean lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. The National Assembly and UNICEF signed a joint commitment to strengthen child-centered multilateral development cooperation the same day. Courtesy of UNICEF

Once one of the world’s poorest countries, Korea has become one of UNICEF’s largest donors — a transformation the agency’s executive director calls “one of the most remarkable in modern history.”

“Korea has gone from being a recipient to a leading donor and one of UNICEF’s most important global partners ... Korea is a shining example that with the right investments in children — in education, health, nutrition and protection — transformation is possible,” UNICEF chief Catherine Russell told The Korea Times in a written interview ahead of her visit to Seoul.

Korea now contributes $228.5 million to UNICEF annually from public and private sources combined, ranking sixth globally in 2025. Since joining the OECD Development Assistance Committee in 2010, the Korean government alone has contributed more than $800 million to UNICEF programs, helping reach over 110 million children worldwide.

“What sets Korea apart is that it’s not just one type of partnership. It’s everything, all at once. I sometimes describe it as a whole-of-ecosystem partnership,” Russell said.

On Tuesday, the National Assembly and UNICEF signed a joint commitment to strengthen child-centered multilateral development cooperation. Under the agreement, both sides pledged to reinforce the policy and institutional foundations of official development assistance, prioritize child-centered approaches across international development, humanitarian action and climate initiatives, and promote joint action to advance and protect the rights of every child.

A central focus of her two-day visit is UNICEF’s participation in Korea’s Global AI Hub initiative, which seeks global cooperation to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions to humanitarian challenges. Russell said the two sides are moving toward signing a letter of intent, calling it “a significant step” that signals UNICEF’s commitment to help shape the initiative.

“For us, what matters most is that the Hub becomes a credible multilateral platform. That means strong governance, sustainable financing, and critically, robust safeguards to ensure that AI is developed and deployed responsibly, especially when it comes to protecting children,” she said.

Russell noted that UNICEF is exploring AI-enabled early warning systems capable of predicting humanitarian crises before they fully develop, as well as digital platforms to extend health and education services to children in remote areas. She stressed, however, that technology must be deployed responsibly.

“We know all too well that AI can pose real risks for children, whether through privacy violations, biased systems or misuse. Any technology we deploy has to have solid, child-rights safeguards built in from the start, not added as an afterthought,” she said.

Below is an excerpt from the interview with Russell, edited for clarity and readability.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell interacts with children at Amamiria Boys’ School in Kassala state, Sudan, Dec. 9, 2025. Courtesy of UNICEF

Q. What is the purpose of your trip to Korea?

A. UNICEF greatly values our partnership with Korea. One of the most exciting things on the agenda for this visit has been our discussions around Korea’s Global AI Hub initiative. The Korean government has proposed establishing this Hub here in Korea to advance the use of artificial intelligence in development and humanitarian work, and UNICEF is very committed to the initiative.

We want to make sure that UNICEF can have a formal staff presence within the Hub, so we are working toward a host country agreement as well. It’s a forward-looking initiative and we’re excited about where it can go.

AI and digital technology have the potential to transform how we deliver for children, and I think we’re only at the beginning of understanding what that could look like.

Q. What makes Korea’s contributions to UNICEF distinctive, and which partnerships stand out?

A. Today, our programmatic partnerships have grown into something unique. Three areas really stand out.

First, our Global Health partnership. With Korea’s $70 million investment, this became UNICEF’s largest integrated health and water and sanitation program across 35 countries, helping over 16 million women and children access critical services after COVID-19.

Second, Climate Action for the Last Mile, a $42 million initiative with KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) that is bringing climate resilience to fragile settings, from solar-powered water systems to climate-resilient schools, directly benefiting over 120,000 people.

And third, Resilience for Children+, which launched in 2024 with a $55 million first-year commitment, Korea’s largest ever annual humanitarian contribution to UNICEF. It is reaching over 1 million people in some of the world’s most complex crises, from Ethiopia to Myanmar and Gaza.

What I find exciting is how these have evolved from individual projects into integrated, multicountry platforms. That’s a real sign of a maturing, strategic partnership.

Q. Korea has a strong cultural presence globally through K-pop and other forms of art. How are those advancing UNICEF’s work for children?

A. Around the world, UNICEF works with prominent personalities from the world of arts, music, film and sports who volunteer their time to support UNICEF’s work on behalf of children — including amplifying, advocating and fundraising for children’s rights.

Korea is again such a key player through its cultural influence, from K-pop to the entertainment industry. These partnerships are helping us reach young people and audiences around the world that we might otherwise not be able to reach, and raise awareness and support for children, especially the most vulnerable.

Artists such as BTS and TXT have been incredible, especially by shining a light on mental health issues, which is a global issue for millions of children and young people. I had the pleasure of meeting TXT last September in New York to support our global mental health campaign. This is such a powerful example of how Korean cultural reach can advance child rights advocacy globally.

Q. Children in conflict zones and fragile states are facing compounding crises at a time when global aid funding is shrinking. How critical is UNICEF’s role in this environment and how can Korea and UNICEF work together to help?

A. Children today are facing overlapping crises: conflict, climate shocks, food insecurity and economic instability. In many places, development progress that took decades to achieve is being reversed.

This is happening at a time where we are seeing shrinking global funding while needs continue to grow — and the consequences are hitting children first, and they are hitting them the hardest. Children are getting killed and injured when war and humanitarian crises erupt, but they are also losing the essential services they rely on to survive — hospitals, homes and schools, and access to medicine, food and safe water.

A few years of an adult’s life might not seem that long, but for a child, if they miss out on essential nutrition, routine vaccination, schooling or a sense of safety, those few years can result in permanent physical and mental damage and the inability to develop to their full potential.

UNICEF and partners are trying to fill that gap. We are reaching millions of children around the world every year with essentials like food, water, immunization, medicines and learning, while advocating with governments to respect international humanitarian law and the rights of children to be protected from all forms of harm.

But as needs outpace funds, we desperately appeal for more resources and political will to address the root causes of overlapping crises that are pushing children and families to the brink.

As for Korea’s role, I think what’s needed most right now is what Korea has been doing: staying engaged, staying committed and continuing to lead on multilateralism at a time when others are stepping back.

Concretely, we’re looking to expand the Resilience for Children+ partnership into even more complex crisis settings, and to restore the flexible humanitarian funding that allows us to respond quickly where children need us most. Korea’s leadership through the Korean Parliamentary Friends of UNICEF plays a critical role in sustaining that political commitment over time, and we are grateful for it.