Actng president calls for future education based on trust, cooperation in AI era

Acting President Lee Ju-ho called Wednesday for efforts to advance education based on trust and cooperation in the digital era driven by artificial intelligence (AI), casting the AI's emergence as a major shift in human civilization.

Lee, the education minister, made the remarks as he attended the ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, a preparatory session taking place ahead of the APEC summit to be hosted by Korea's city of Gyeongju later this year.

"Korea is a country that has achieved both economic growth and social development through the power of education," Lee said in the opening remarks at the plenary session of the 7th APEC education ministers' meeting on Jeju Island.

"The advancement of digital technologies and the emergence of AI represent a civilizational shift," he said.

Lee described education in this AI era as a pillar of sustainable prosperity that would benefit the whole community across the globe.

"As AI and digital technologies evolve at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that the benefits of these advancements are distributed fairly and equitably across societies," he said.

Lee highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation among countries to advance these initiatives.

"Global cooperation in education is more critical than ever," he said. "We must share best practices, collaborate on policies and technologies, and work hand in hand to close persistent educational gaps."

At the meeting, the ministers discussed the potential changes in the education systems with the digital transformation, especially in the light of the rise of generative AI, a readout from the APEC website showed.

The ministers reaffirmed the role of education as the foundation for economic resilience, social cohesion and long-term prosperity.

They also underscored the importance of sharing AI-driven innovations, promoting exchanges among teachers, strengthening regional learning networks and advancing digital inclusion initiatives.

The education ministers' meeting kicked off Tuesday for a three-day run, bringing together delegations from 21 APEC member economies. It will be followed by a series of other high-level sessions, including the trade ministers' talks set for Thursday and Friday.