IOM chief sees South Korea as AI hub, stresses UN resource integration

Amy Pope, the first female director-general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the ninth American to lead the agency, is navigating a complex political landscape. Having held senior positions in the Obama and Biden administrations, Pope received strong backing from the Biden government during her 2023 IOM election campaign. This support inherently creates tension with former President Donald Trump, whose stringent refugee expulsion policies and cuts to UN funding diverge from the IOM's values and interests.

To address these challenges, the IOM is pursuing comprehensive reforms and operational efficiencies. A key initiative is its participation in South Korea's "Global AI Hub," a project designed to integrate data and enhance AI capabilities among various UN bodies. Nine organizations, including the IOM, World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP), International Labour Organization (ILO), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), have decided to establish an "AI headquarters" in South Korea. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo signed a letter of intent for the hub in Geneva in March, and recently hosted UN agency heads in Seoul for a vision declaration ceremony.

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Instead of each fighting individually to improve their supply chains, it is more effective for organizations to pool their capabilities and find joint solutions.

Pope views the AI Hub as crucial for the efficient use of resources, a personal goal for the organization. "Currently, many international organizations are trying to solve the same problems with different perspectives and methods," Pope stated. "However, instead of each fighting individually to improve their supply chains, it is more effective for organizations to pool their capabilities and find joint solutions." She expressed high expectations for the hub, citing South Korea's abundant highly skilled workforce capable of data processing and utilization, and the government's strong commitment to AI investment.

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South Korea has a rich pool of highly skilled individuals capable of processing and utilizing various data, and the government has a strong will to invest in artificial intelligence, so we have high expectations for the Global AI Hub.

The IOM's mission focuses on promoting the "mutual benefit" for countries receiving and sending migrants, while preventing cross-border crimes like illegal entry and human trafficking. The organization collects and analyzes vast amounts of data from its 175 member states and advises on national policies. AI can significantly enhance the IOM's capabilities, offering AI-based information platforms for migrant settlement assistance, early detection of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, and data sharing on illegal immigration patterns.

Amidst the fragmentation of the post-Cold War liberal international order, Pope finds hope in "diversifying actors." She noted South Korea's transformation from a recipient of aid to one of the IOM's top 10 donors. "I believe we can find a way forward by diversifying partnerships, such as through the creation of the Global AI Hub in Korea," she said, highlighting the potential for new collaborations.

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I believe we can find a way forward by diversifying partnerships, such as through the creation of the Global AI Hub in Korea.