AI frameworks must ensure equal access, South Korea's president urges G20

ISTANBUL

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Sunday that global frameworks for artificial intelligence (AI) should ensure equal access for all nations.

At the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on AI, Lee called for global frameworks to ensure broader, more equitable access to AI technologies, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News.

"The advancement of AI must provide fair opportunities for all nations and all peoples," he said, pledging to work with the international community to advance South Korea's vision for inclusive AI.

The president said South Korea will host the 2028 G20 summit with a "profound sense of responsibility" in a bid to strengthen the forum's role in global economic cooperation, as it was confirmed to assume the presidency following the US in 2026 and the UK in 2027.

"With a profound sense of responsibility, we will do our utmost to ensure that the G20 further consolidates its role as the premier forum for international economic cooperation," Lee said.

During the summit session "A Fair and Just Future for All," Lee stressed the importance of establishing a stable, mutually beneficial supply chain for critical minerals.

"We must establish a stable and mutually beneficial supply chain for critical minerals, where mineral-rich and mineral-importing countries share the benefits," he said.

He praised the G20's approval of the Critical Minerals Framework and emphasized Seoul's role as chair of the Minerals Security Partnership, along with its initiation of the Korea-Africa Critical Minerals Cooperation Initiative to promote global collaboration.

South Korea “will continue to support international efforts to build mutually beneficial and resilient supply chains," he said.

Separately, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that on day two of the summit, the leaders discussed international cooperation on critical minerals and AI.

During the meeting, Takaichi “conveyed Japan’s positions and initiatives on strengthening the resilience of supply chains for critical minerals and on ensuring safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.”

“As the international community faces multiple crises, the role of the G20 is becoming increasingly important. Japan intends to continue to cooperate actively,” her office quoted Takaichi as saying on the US social media company X.

While addressing the same meeting, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that technological applications must be “human-centric” rather than “finance-centric”, “global” rather than “national,” and based on “open source” rather than 'exclusive models.”

According to a post on US social media company X by Indian External Minister Randhir Jaiswal, Modi underlined that “AI must translate into global good,” calling for a “global compact based on the principles of transparency, human oversight, safety-by-design and prevention of misuse.”