Indonesia and South Korea Explore AI Cooperation Rooted in Ethics and Asian Values
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia and South Korea have held high-level discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on digital talent development, infrastructure support, and culturally grounded governance models.
The dialogue took place on the sidelines of the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI in Bangkok, Thailand, during a bilateral meeting between Nezar Patria, Indonesian Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, and Prof. Sang-Wook Yi, Head of the Ethics and Security Division of South Korea’s National Committee for AI Strategy, on Thursday, 26 June.
In an official statement, Deputy Minister Patria highlighted South Korea as a strategic partner in Indonesia’s digital transformation efforts. “Korea’s experience in integrating research, ethics, and practical AI implementation across sectors offers valuable insights for our national AI development strategy,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of embedding Asian values—such as mutual cooperation, respect for elders, and social harmony—into AI model development, ensuring that emerging technologies remain culturally relevant and locally beneficial.
Prof. Sang-Wook Yi noted that South Korea allocates three percent of its GDP to AI development, a figure significantly above the global average. He also shared that South Korea is currently preparing a national AI textbook to foster AI literacy from early education levels, expected to be finalized by the end of this year.
The two sides concurred on the importance of balancing technological advancement with ethical safeguards in education. Citing OECD data, Prof. Yi remarked, “There is no conclusive evidence that AI education alone directly improves student outcomes, underscoring the need for comprehensive evaluation of its impact.”
In response, Deputy Minister Patria elaborated on Indonesia’s efforts to promote AI and coding education while also advancing critical digital literacy to mitigate potential risks posed by AI technologies. He extended an invitation to Prof. Yi to visit Jakarta for direct engagement with Indonesian stakeholders and policymakers.
The meeting also explored opportunities for joint research, university partnerships, and the development of AI ethics curricula tailored to the cultural context of both countries.
Both officials expressed support for the ASEAN initiative to build a regional Large Language Model (ASEAN LLM), viewing it as a strategic step towards regional digital sovereignty and collaboration.
“Indonesia is committed to building an inclusive, ethical, and collaborative AI future,” Patria concluded. “We hope today’s meeting marks the beginning of a long and impactful partnership with South Korea.”
