[CONFERENCE] Lawmaker, envoys call for human-centered education as AI advances

Rep. Kim Hee-jung and foreign ambassadors urged human-centered education at The Korea Times Global Conference in Seoul on Tuesday as AI advances. The conference, themed Beyond AI: Building human-centered leadership for next era, focused on how universities should redefine education and leadership. Speakers said technology should serve education, while human skills such as critical thinking, creativity and responsibility remain essential.

Rep. Kim Hee-jung of the People Power Party chairs the National Assembly’s Education Committee.

The conference was held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul.

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing said China is ready to work with Korea on talent development in the AI era, including more university cooperation and student exchanges.

British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks said AI is transforming economies and societies and highlighted critical thinking, creativity, sound judgment, leadership and collaboration as key human skills.

Published Sep 15, 2026 2:45 pm KST

Updated Sep 15, 2026 3:03 pm KST

Rep. Kim Hee-jung of the People Power Party, chairperson of the National Assembly's Education Committee, delivers a congratulatory speech during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

A lawmaker and foreign ambassadors set the tone for The Korea Times Global Conference in Seoul, Tuesday, with congratulatory speeches highlighting the importance of education and human capabilities in the artificial intelligence (AI) era.

The conference, held under the theme "Beyond AI: Building human-centered leadership for next era," brought together academics and industry representatives at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building to discuss how universities should redefine education and leadership as AI reshapes society.

Rep. Kim Hee-jung of People Power Party, chairperson of the National Assembly's Education Committee, said the conference addresses the core themes we should focus on, adding that as technology advances, the answer increasingly lies with people.

"Education is what builds human strength," Kim said. "Technologies once unimaginable are now becoming reality, and evolving faster than we ever imagined. To lead that change rather than letting it lead us, we need to think harder and move faster."

Kim added that she would listen more closely to voices from the field that go beyond the existing framework of education.

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing delivers a congratulatory speech during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing said the forum's theme carries great significance, as AI is reshaping how people produce knowledge, deliver education and communicate across societies.

"The fundamental purpose of education is to cultivate, develop and empower people. Technology should serve education by advancing comprehensive human development," the ambassador said. "We need not only to train people with the ability to use AI, but also to cultivate people with independent thinking, an innovative spirit, a strong sense of responsibility, and humanistic sentiment."

Dai said China is ready to work with Korea to develop new approaches to nurturing talent in the AI era, including expanded cooperation between universities and greater student exchanges.

"Faced with a new round of technological and industrial revolution, China stands ready to work with the Republic of Korea to explore new approaches to talent development in the age of AI," he said, calling for more joint research between leading universities in emerging fields such as AI, green industries and biomedicine, as well as greater exchanges between students in the two countries.

British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks delivers a congratulatory speech during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks said AI is transforming economies and societies, offering a major opportunity to strengthen innovation, productivity and human potential.

"There can be few better places to have this conversation than here in the Republic of Korea," Crooks said.

"Korea has demonstrated remarkable leadership in technology, digital innovation and skills, while maintaining a strong commitment to education and research. Its achievements provide valuable lessons for countries around the world as they seek to harness the opportunities of AI."

Crooks said education would remain central to shaping the future, adding that even as AI becomes more powerful, the capabilities that matter most will remain fundamentally human. He cited critical thinking, creativity, sound judgment, leadership and the ability to work collaboratively as skills that will become increasingly important in the AI era.

随着人工智能的飞速发展，韩国国会议员金熙贞和多位外国大使周二在首尔举行的《韩国时报》全球大会上呼吁重视以人为本的教育。此次大会以“超越人工智能：构建面向未来的以人为本的领导力”为主题，重点探讨大学应如何重新定义教育和领导力。与会者指出，技术应服务于教育，而批判性思维、创造力和责任感等人类技能仍然至关重要。

国民力量党议员金熙正担任国会教育委员会主席。

会议在首尔的韩国工商会大楼举行。

中国驻韩国大使戴兵表示，中国愿与韩国在人工智能时代的人才培养方面开展合作，包括加强高校合作和学生交流。

英国驻韩国大使科林·克鲁克斯表示，人工智能正在改变经济和社会，并强调批判性思维、创造力、良好的判断力、领导力和协作能力是关键的人类技能。

发布于2026年9月15日下午2:45（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月15日下午3:03（韩国标准时间）

周二，国民力量党议员、国会教育委员会委员长金熙正（音译）在首尔韩国工商会大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上发表祝贺致辞。（《韩国时报》沈贤哲摄）

周二，在首尔举行的《韩国时报》全球大会上，一位国会议员和几位外国大使发表了祝贺讲话，强调了教育和人类能力在人工智能（AI）时代的重要性，为大会定下了基调。

本次会议以“超越人工智能：构建以人为本的下一代领导力”为主题，汇聚了学术界和产业界的代表，齐聚韩国工商会大楼，探讨随着人工智能重塑社会，大学应该如何重新定义教育和领导力。

国民力量党议员、国会教育委员会委员长金熙正表示，此次会议探讨了我们应该关注的核心主题，并补充说，随着科技的进步，答案越来越取决于人。

“教育是培养人类力量的源泉，”金说道。“曾经难以想象的技术如今正在成为现实，并且发展速度远超我们的想象。为了引领变革而不是被变革所左右，我们需要更努力地思考，更快地行动。”

金补充说，她将更加认真地倾听来自教育领域之外的声音，这些声音超越了现有的教育框架。

周二，中国驻韩国大使戴兵在首尔韩国工商会大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上致贺词。（《韩国时报》沈贤哲摄）

中国驻韩国大使戴兵表示，此次论坛的主题意义重大，因为人工智能正在重塑人们生产知识、提供教育和跨社会交流的方式。

大使表示：“教育的根本目的是培养、发展和赋能人才。科技应当服务于教育，促进人的全面发展。我们不仅需要培养具备人工智能应用能力的人才，更需要培养具有独立思考能力、创新精神、强烈责任感和人文情怀的人才。”

戴表示，中国愿与韩国合作，探索人工智能时代人才培养的新途径，包括扩大高校间的合作和加强学生交流。

“面对新一轮科技和产业革命，中国愿与韩国携手探索人工智能时代人才培养的新途径，”他表示，并呼吁两国顶尖大学在人工智能、绿色产业和生物医药等新兴领域开展更多联合研究，以及加强两国学生之间的交流。

周二，英国驻韩国大使科林·克鲁克斯在首尔韩国工商会大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上发表祝贺致辞。（《韩国时报》沈铉哲摄）

英国驻韩国大使科林·克鲁克斯表示，人工智能正在改变经济和社会，为加强创新、提高生产力和发挥人类潜力提供了重大机遇。

克鲁克斯说：“在韩国，恐怕没有比这里更好的地方来进行这场对话了。”

“韩国在技术、数字创新和技能方面展现了卓越的领导力，同时保持着对教育和研究的坚定承诺。其成就为世界各国寻求利用人工智能带来的机遇提供了宝贵的经验。”

克鲁克斯表示，教育仍将是塑造未来的核心，并补充说，即使人工智能变得越来越强大，最重要的能力仍然本质上是人类的。他指出，批判性思维、创造力、良好的判断力、领导力和协作能力等技能在人工智能时代将变得越来越重要。