President Yoon Suk Yeol on March 18 gives a welcoming speech at the ministerial conference of the third Summit for Democracy on the theme "AI/Digital Technology and Democracy" at the hotel Shilla Seoul in the capital's Jung-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Yoon Sojung

Video = Jeon Han and Lee Jun Young

President Yoon Suk Yeol on March 18 stressed that artificial intelligence (AI) and new digital technology must enhance democracy and protect individual and societal freedom.

At the opening ceremony for the third Summit for Democracy at the hotel Shilla Seoul in the capital's Jung-gu District, he said, "With a stern sense of duty, we must gather our experiences and pool our wisdom so that AI and new digital technologies promote democracy while protecting individual and societal safety."

The president said convenience of life and the democracy crisis are the two sides of digital technology. Mentioning his administration's Digital Bill of Rights announced in September last year in New York, he added, "Digital technology including AI must contribute to expanding human freedom, share its benefits equally with everyone and not threaten individual or societal safety."

"The democratic system can develop through more opportunities for youth" he added, urging governments to carefully listen to the voices of the younger generation and expand opportunities for them.

In his opening speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul said, "When nations valuing freedom and human rights unite, this can guarantee peace," adding, "Korean history is living proof of this truth."

"Korea is holding this summit with the international community to protect democracy based on the values of freedom, human rights and rule of law."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld in their keynote speeches stressed the importance of the summit because the governments of countries like the U.K., U.S., Ecuador and Kenya must jointly act to protect democracy and counter threats from digital technology. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on March 18 gives a speech under the theme "AI/Digital Technology and Democracy" at the third Summit for Democracy's ministerial conference at the hotel Seoul Shilla in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Jeon Han)

In the ministerial conference under the theme "AI/Digital Technology and Democracy" after the opening ceremony, participants discussed the effects of the rapid development of new technology on democracy for future generations and the international community's response.

Secretary Blinken said AI must be safe, contribute to human development and improve quality of life, adding that technology is developing faster than imagined. He also urged countries to jointly respond to the crisis caused by new technology, calling the situation "very urgent."

European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova discussed challenges ahead of the European Parliament election in June such as large-scale cyberattacks, fake news utilizing AI, distortion of information and deepfakes. She also introduced the European Union's responses to them including the creation of a code of conduct. 

Under the theme "Democracy for Future Generations," the third Summit for Democracy began on March 18 with the opening ceremony and ministerial conference and will end on March 20. A discussion and workshop led by domestic and foreign civic leaders is slated for the second day at COEX Mall in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. 

The summit's plenary session will be held on the final day. That evening, President Yoon, Kenyan President William Ruto and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will hold a videoconference in which President Yoon will chair a second session on technology, elections and fake news.

Launched in 2021 under the leadership of U.S. President Joe Biden, the summit held its second edition in March last year with Korea, the U.S., Netherlands and Zambia as co-hosts. 

European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova on March 18 talks about the European Union's responses to the tasks and challenges caused by new technology at the third Summit for Democracy's ministerial conference under the theme "AI/Digital Technology and Democracy" at the hotel Shilla Seoul in the capital's Jung-gu District. (Jeon Han)

Participants in the third Summit for Democracy's ministerial conference under the theme "AI/Digital Technology and Democracy" on March 18 take a group photo at the hotel Seoul Shilla in the capital's Jung-gu District. (Jeon Han)