- MSIT attends the Korea-ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting 2025 to discuss enhancing digital cooperation
- Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral meeting to explore how to improve international AI safety and digital cooperation

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The Ministry of Science and ICT will attend the Fifth ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting held in Bangkok, Thaild, from January 16 to 17, with Vice Minister Kang Dohyun as the Head of the Delegation, to promote Korea-ASEAN cooperation on digital innovation.

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The Republic of Korea, a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN*, is invited to the Korea-ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting, which is part of the ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting, as its Co-Chair to stocktake the cooperative activities between Korea and ASEAN in the digital sector and discuss future plans.

* Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Sigapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar

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This year's meeting will propel the implementation of the Korea-ASEAN Digital Flagship (KADIF) initiative, in which USD 30 million of the Korea-ASEAN Cooperation Fund will be invested for the next five years. The initiative was developed with the aim of building digital capacity and boosting economic development of the young and dynamic ASEAN region through Korea's outstanding digital technologies, while also fostering opportunities of shared prosperity for Korea and ASEAN.

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The KADIF initiative comprises five projects: 1) Joint Data Ecosystem and 2) HPC Computing Infrastructure, for improving ASEAN's insufficient data infrastructure; 3) Digital Academy and 4) AI Startup Competition, for nurturing digital talent in the ASEAN region; 5) Development and Application of AI solutions, for supporting wider AI development in the ASEAN region. With Korea and ASEAN signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership last year, this initiative is expected to translate the elevated diplomatic relations into tangible actions.

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This year, Lao PDR will be the first nation to host the Digital Academy, which will sprea to other ASEAN Member Nations; Indonesia will begin building the HPC Computing Infrastructure, which will house NPUs manufactured by Korea, to support AI deployment and research in ASEAN. Additionally, the "AI Contest" will be held annually to support the discovery of innovative ideas on AI among startups and youth in ASEAN. The other two projects are expected to be fully launched this year, creating a synergistic effect across all five projects.

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During the Ministerial Meeting, Vice Minister Kang Do-Hyun will meet with the ASEAN Secretary-General and representatives from key countries participating in the Ministerial Meeting, such as the United States, Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia, to explore specific cooperation plans. In particular, a trilateral meeting between Korea, the U.S., and Japan will be held, where discussions will not only focus on strengthening cooperation between the three countries and ASEAN but also on follow-up discussions after the Network of International AI Safety Institute meeting (Nov. 2024, San Francisco), aimed at fostering international cooperation on AI safety. The Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral meeting, which was first held last year during the ASEAN Digital Ministerial Meeting (Feb. 2024, Singapore), is expected to establish a foundation for continued cooperation between the three countries in the fields of digital technology and AI through this second meeting.

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Cooperation with individual ASEAN member states will also be strengthened. Through meetings with countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, practical discussions regarding the implementation of flagship digital innovation projects, such as the opening of digital academies and the establishment of high-performance computing centers, will take place.

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Meanwhile, Vice Minister Kang Do-Hyun, at the request of Vietnam, attended the "National Forum on Digital Technology Enterprises" held in Hanoi on the 15th, where he gave a speech on "Korea’s Digital and AI Policies and Cooperation Plans with ASEAN Countries" to government and business leaders, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, who assumed office last August. Policy consultations were also held during the event.

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Vice Minister Kang Do-Hyun of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "Digital technology is a crucial growth engine for the future of the international community, and all countries must accelerate digital transformation for innovative and sustainable development," adding, "As a model digital nation, Korea will actively work to expand cooperation across various fields and build a safe, innovative, and inclusive digital community."

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For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

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Please refer to the attached PDF.