President Lee Jae-myung Leads UN Security Council's First Open Debate on AI and Global Security

President Lee Jae-myung presided over an unprecedented open debate on "Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security" at the United Nations Security Council, marking a historic moment as the first Korean leader to lead a Security Council meeting.

Held at the UN headquarters in New York on the 24th local time, this open debate was a result of Korea's role as the Council president this year. Lee Jae-myung opened the session by striking the gavel and introducing the topic, after which heads of state from participating countries expressed their appreciation for his leadership before delivering their prepared statements.

Quoting Professor Geoffrey Hinton, President Lee remarked that “today’s AI is like a tiger cub—it may grow into a fierce predator that can devour us, or it may become a beloved character like ‘Duppy’ from K-pop Demon Hunters.” He emphasized, “The future we enter will depend entirely on how we manage AI.”

Lee further warned that, “If we fail to adapt to change and are simply dragged along, a severe technological divide may create a ‘silicon curtain’ even more formidable than the old ‘iron curtain’, deepening global inequality and imbalance.”

He underscored that in this era, where AI capabilities are synonymous with national power, regressing against technological progress like a modern-day Luddite movement is neither possible nor realistic. Instead, he argued, “While countries will compete for national interests, wisdom lies in cooperating for the common good.”

Regarding the direction of the AI era, President Lee stated, “The only way to seize the opportunities presented by an AI era that contains both light and shadow is for the international community to unite and firmly establish the principle of responsible use.” Echoing expert warnings, he added, “If artificial intelligence were to threaten humanity’s existence, it would be because we failed to establish shared norms.”

Lee called on governments, academia, industry, and civil society to combine their collective wisdom in order to achieve “AI for all” and “inclusive, human-centric AI innovation.”

He also highlighted the UN’s crucial role: “The Security Council now bears even greater responsibility. If managed properly, AI can help monitor the proliferation of WMDs and act as an effective tool for preventing conflict and maintaining peace. However, if control is lost, we could face a dystopian future overflowing with disinformation, terrorism, and cyberattacks.”

Warning of the risks of “an AI-driven arms race” and escalating security concerns, Lee urged the global community to “analyze the transformed security landscape of the AI era and develop joint response strategies.”

As a “globally responsible nation,” Korea, he pledged, “will take the lead in ensuring AI becomes a powerful tool for humanity’s sustainable future.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, President Lee explained that Korea is “working to adopt the ‘APEC AI Initiative’ so that AI contributes to human prosperity,” and is striving to establish the new normal of an “‘AI-based society’ where the benefits of technological advancement are shared by all.”

Concluding his remarks, Lee stated: “At this historic crossroads shaped by AI, humanity faces a defining moment to preserve our universal values. Let us embrace our generational mission and turn the coming changes into a stepping stone for humanity’s next leap forward.”

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

Photo=Yonhap News Agency