On August 5 in Incheon, the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea, together with the World Bank, co-hosted the APEC Global Digital and AI Forum at the Sheraton Grand Hotel. The forum was held as a follow-up to the Digital and AI Ministers’ Meeting, bringing together government officials and private sector experts from key Asia-Pacific economies to assess the development of digital and AI ecosystems and explore avenues for international collaboration.

The World Bank, which has consistently led efforts to advance the inclusive adoption and responsible use of digital and AI technologies, placed special emphasis at this event on the expansion of capacity-building and policy innovation initiatives worldwide.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the World Bank, the forum was designed to facilitate not only the exchange of information and policy, but also to promote sustainable digital transformation globally, extending beyond the APEC region.

Themed “Preparing for APEC’s Innovative Digital and AI Future,” the forum consisted of three main sessions.

The first session focused on enhancing digital and AI connectivity as well as resilience. Song Sang Hoon, Director-General for ICT Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, delivered the keynote address. The panel, moderated by Casey Torgersen, Program Leader at the World Bank, included Wilson White, Vice President at Google; Yang Seung Hyun, Head of SK AI R&D Center; and Pei-Khan Chen, Founder of CyCraft Technology. The experts discussed bridging digital divides and strengthening social resilience.

The second session highlighted strategies for public sector innovation to foster an inclusive digital society. The session began with a keynote speech from Song Zhijun, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and featured in-depth discussions with Kim Deuk Joong, Vice President of NIPA; Jason Alford, Country Manager of the World Bank Korea Office; and Sandy Koonbattanagan, Asia-Pacific Policy Director at OpenAI, on practical ways to reduce social inequality and extend benefits to all.

In the third session, the focus turned to innovation in AI to address shared global challenges. After the keynote by Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the panel—chaired by Professor Seo Min Joon of KAIST—included Anthony Cook, Vice President at Microsoft; Simon Milner, Vice President at Meta; and Calista Redmond, Vice President at Nvidia, who shared diverse perspectives on leveraging AI for real-world problem-solving.

Kim Sang Boo, Vice President of the World Bank, remarked, “The future of AI—whether it leads to inclusion or division—depends on our choices. Through cooperation among APEC member states, we will work towards building a more trustworthy digital society.”

Baek Kyung Hoon, Minister of Science and ICT, added, “This forum was a meaningful opportunity for international organizations, global companies, and public sector entities to discuss joint response strategies. We look forward to continued collaboration among stakeholders worldwide to shape a digital and AI future for all.”

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Republic of Korea Policy Briefing