Jeju: Acting President Lee Ju-ho on Thursday called for concerted efforts by countries to restore a "cooperative and inclusive" economic environment that benefits all, amid complex crises and uncertainties threatening to undermine prosperity. Lee made the call in a virtual message to an international forum taking place on the southern island of Jeju, underscoring the importance of seeking "new solutions" to the many challenges arising from ongoing conflicts and a shift in the international order.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee emphasized that the ongoing armed conflicts in Europe and the Middle East pose serious challenges to the rules-based international order, while the climate crisis fundamentally threatens the sustainable prosperity of humanity. In his keynote speech during the opening session of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, Lee pointed out that the global economy now faces "structural instability," driven by rising protectionism and economic nationalism, supply chain bottlenecks, and volatile financial markets.
Lee urged moving beyond the logic of power to strengthen the rules-based international order and global governance. He highlighted the need to restore a cooperative and inclusive economic environment, noting that the rapid advancement of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), is opening up new opportunities for humanity, while also posing serious challenges to social and ethical norms.
Lee underscored the necessity of enhancing international solidarity to achieve carbon neutrality and narrow the digital divide, while strengthening cooperation on cybersecurity and establishing global norms for the ethical use of AI. "In today's hyper-connected world, it is time for us to seek new solutions to overcome these intertwined crises," he stated.
In related remarks, Jeju Province Gov. Oh Young-hoon expressed hope that the forum will become a platform for solidarity to overcome conflicts and uncertainties, and move toward peace and sustainability. Oh noted that global conflicts are creating political and economic ripple effects worldwide and emphasized the need for immediate action toward innovation to achieve security, sustainable development, and lasting peace.
Oh highlighted Jeju's growth as a global hub for international dialogue and affirmed the province's commitment to working with the international community to tackle shared challenges and build a more sustainable future.