Labor Minister to Address ILO on Human-Centered AI Transition

South Korean Labor Minister Kim Young-hoo is set to deliver a keynote address at the 114th International Labour Organization (ILO) General Assembly in Geneva, advocating for a human-centered approach to the global transition driven by artificial intelligence. The assembly, running from June 8 to 10, brings together government, employer, and worker representatives from 187 member states to discuss labor issues and international labor standards.

Minister Kim's speech on June 10 will focus on ensuring human dignity and the value of labor remain central amidst rapid AI advancements. He plans to showcase South Korea's strategies for an industrial transformation that supports workers, strengthens social safety nets, and promotes social dialogue. The minister aims to emphasize the importance of these policies in navigating the evolving world of work and to underscore South Korea's commitment to international cooperation.

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The minister will deliver a speech at the ILO General Assembly plenary session on the 10th, focusing on the need to place human dignity and the value of labor at the center of the AI transition era.

During his participation, Kim will also engage in bilateral discussions. He is scheduled to meet with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo to discuss key labor issues and collaborative efforts. Additionally, he will host a reception for representatives from countries benefiting from South Korea's international cooperation projects, including Cambodia, Paraguay, Vietnam, and Mongolia. These projects, funded with 16.6 billion won over three years from 2024, focus on areas like vocational training, youth employment, industrial safety, and social economy.

The minister's agenda also includes attending a reception for G7 labor ministers and holding separate meetings with his counterparts from the Netherlands and Spain to exchange experiences on social dialogue. Following the ILO assembly, a South Korean delegation, including representatives from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Korea Employers Federation, will travel to Germany. There, they will explore ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and discuss social dialogue and industrial transition policies with German officials and labor union leaders. The delegation is also slated to visit the Volkswagen Group to learn about labor-management decision-making processes and workers' rights.

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We plan to introduce South Korea's policies for an industrial transformation that prioritizes workers, strengthens social safety nets, and promotes social dialogue, and emphasize the strengthening of South Korea's role in the international community.