Seoul: South Korea aims to expand cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector as it seeks to become a key player in the field, a senior official from the state-run IT industry promotion agency has said. Kim Deuk-jung, executive vice president of the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), made the remark during an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Monday during his visit to the Expand North Star exhibition hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, which kicked off Sunday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim attended the event to deliver a speech titled "Korea-UAE Path to AI Leadership," highlighting the importance of bilateral cooperation amid growing global competition. "Dubai is considered a miracle that rose from the desert, creating world-class achievements," Kim said. "South Korea is also a land of innovation, and the two countries share common ground that can advance innovation in the era of AI."

Kim noted that while South Korea's economy is highly competitive in the manufacturing sector, including semiconductors, it can learn from the UAE's rapid adoption of AI technologies across various sectors. Such cooperation is particularly crucial as South Korea recently committed to becoming one of the world's top three AI powerhouses, with ties to the UAE providing added momentum for this vision.

In September, President Lee Jae Myung announced the goal of making South Korea one of the top three AI powerhouses globally during the launch of the National AI Strategy Committee. The committee is chaired by the president and includes 34 private-sector members and 13 ministers. "South Korea has a vision to become one of the world's top three AI players, and this can be achieved with partnerships with the UAE," Kim emphasized.

Kim expressed his admiration for Dubai's proactive adoption of AI technology, particularly in the government sector, and encouraged South Korean companies, including startups, to engage in AI-related projects in the Middle East. "The UAE has been striving to attract what it lacked, including capital, startups, and talent, to emerge as a leading player in the region," Kim remarked. "South Korea should also implement policies to become a core player in the IT sector, just as it has become a leading nation in the cultural industry."