In observance of the 2025 Development Cooperation Week designated by the government, Chairman Chun Seung-hun delivered a keynote speech at the seminar titled "Development Conditions for the Global South and Korea's Development Cooperation Tasks in the AI Era," held on November 25 at the Plaza Hotel. As an official program of the 2025 Development Cooperation Week, the seminar provided a comprehensive platform to explore development strategies for the Global South amidst the rapid proliferation of AI technology.

During the event, participants emphasized the need for a new cooperation model to support developing countries, centered on digital transformation and a modern reinterpretation of Korea's decades of accumulated development experience. Discussions highlighted that the strengths of the Korean-style development cooperation model are built on a rock-solid foundation, and there is a growing necessity to secure robust execution capabilities—as firm as metal—in future technology sectors such as AI, data, and digital infrastructure.

The seminar commenced with the keynote address by Chairman Chun Seung-hun of Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS). The session was moderated by Jang Hyun-shik, Vice Chairman of the International Development Consulting Association (IDCA), and featured a panel of experts including Lee Ho-gun, President of the Korea Society for Educational Technology; Cho Hyun-kyu, Director of the ICT Innovation Department at KOICA; Ha Jae-woong, Director of the Leverage Research Institute; and Professor Kim Hyung-kyu of Chungnam National University.

In his presentation, Chairman Chun Seung-hun diagnosed the rapidly changing development landscape of the Global South in the age of artificial intelligence. He emphasized the need for a development cooperation strategy that integrates Korea's economic development experience with its advanced technological capabilities, noting the importance of co-designing digital transformation roadmaps and strengthening human resource capacities.

The seminar was evaluated as a significant milestone, demonstrating that development cooperation in the AI era must transcend traditional aid-centered models to transition into a comprehensive cooperation system combining technology, education, and governance. It was also noted for its importance in showing that Korea's development experience and ICT-based capabilities can make practical contributions to supporting the digital transformation of Global South nations.

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