News 21 May 2026 IOM Chief Commits to Shared Vision for Global AI Hub in the Republic of Korea

Geneva/Seoul, 21 May 2026 - The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, joined the Government of the Republic of Korea and United Nations partners today in Seoul to reaffirm IOM's commitment to the launch of a new Global AI Hub in the Republic of Korea. The initiative aims to strengthen responsible and human-centred artificial intelligence under the shared vision, "AI for All, AI to Solve Global Challenges."

From health and climate change to migration, food security and humanitarian response, governments and international organizations are facing increasingly complex global challenges that are evolving faster than traditional systems can keep pace.

"Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform how we protect vulnerable communities," said DG Pope, speaking at the Vision Declaration Ceremony, where she was joined by IOM Deputy Director General for Management and Reform, SungAh Lee. "By working together, we can better use data to anticipate risks, prevent crises from escalating and support more informed decision-making."

DG Pope also emphasized that strengthened international cooperation will be essential to ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence are shared equitably and responsibly.

Hosted by the Republic of Korea, the Global AI Hub will bring together participating organizations - initially nine UN agencies and related entities - around shared infrastructure, expertise and innovation. The Hub is designed to support more coordinated and efficient approaches to applying emerging technologies, with particular attention to countries and communities most in need.

The platform will serve as a collaborative space for advancing AI governance, standards, safety and accountability, while also supporting the development of practical AI tools to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

The initiative will further enable participating organizations to design and scale AI applications through shared engineering capacity, data resources and responsible AI practices.

This milestone builds on the Letter of Intent signed in Geneva in March 2026 and reflects continued progress in establishing the Hub, which is expected to become fully operational in 2027.

For more information, please visit IOM's Media Centre.