Kim Dongyeon Stresses "Reducing Inequality Through Human-Centered Technology" in Gyeonggi International Forum Opening Address

Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated that "the answer to the era of tilted opportunities brought about by AI advancement is a 'human-centered transformation,'" emphasizing the need to reduce inequality, expand opportunities, and achieve sustainable growth through people-centered technology.

On December 10, during the opening address at the 2025 Gyeonggi International Forum held at KINTEX in Goyang under the theme "Human-centered Transformation: Designing a Society Where Technology Serves Humanity," Governor Kim said, "With the unprecedentedly rapid advancement of technology, we are now living in an era of 'tilted opportunities,' where a lack of opportunities, inequality of opportunity, and failure to access opportunities all occur simultaneously. In the face of this massive transformation that is changing human life, our task is clear."

He continued, "As technology grows rapidly, Gyeonggi Province has steadily paved the way for a human-centered transformation so that the opportunities created by these technologies can grow in tandem." He introduced the province's efforts, including the establishment of the nation's first Department of AI at the local government level, the launch of a climate satellite, AI-based care services, the Youth Ladder project, Opportunity Income, the Climate Citizens' Assembly, and the Energy Opportunity Income Village.

Governor Kim expressed his hope that "this forum will serve as a milestone for human-centered transformation by discussing future technologies, new economic structures that foster social solidarity and integration, and ways for the international community to cooperate in overcoming inequality." He added, "Let us join hands and move unwaveringly toward a world where people truly live and a community where we live together. Gyeonggi Province will firmly take the lead as a first mover."

The keynote speeches at the 2025 Gyeonggi International Forum featured Jurgen Schmidhuber, a professor at KAUST in Saudi Arabia known as the 'father of modern artificial intelligence,' and Daniel Susskind, a research professor at King's College London and a leading author in the discourse on economic and labor policies in the AI era.

Professor Schmidhuber emphasized "AI for All," where everyone can utilize powerful and transparent AI, and stated that "technological development must be directed toward including vulnerable groups."

Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, is delivering the opening address at the Gyeonggi International Forum, which opened on the 10th. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

Professor Susskind re-examined the benefits and costs of existing economic growth discourse and suggested that "in an AI era where labor is disappearing, we must create new economic structures that enable social integration and solidarity."

During the opening dialogue, chaired by Governor Kim, an in-depth discussion took place under the theme "Designing a New Inclusive Society in the Era of Transformation."

The dialogue featured the two keynote speakers and Christine Zhenwei Qiang, Global Director for Digital Development at the World Bank, as panelists. They discussed new social principles and blueprints for public policy suitable for the era of human-centered transformation.

The four participants and the audience shared key directions for local governments and international public policy required in the era of transformation through questions and answers on topics such as international solidarity to overcome inequalities like the AI divide, the development direction of human-centered and inclusive AI technology, and new economic structures suited to an AI era with decreasing jobs.

This 2025 Gyeonggi International Forum will continue through December 11 with a total of four individual sessions: Opportunity, Climate, Caregiving, and Labor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.