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| ▲ Speakers participate in a plenary session on artificial intelligence and the future of government at the 2024 U.N. Public Service Forum on June 24, 2024. (Yonhap) |
public service forum-UN
U.N. Public Service Forum opens in S. Korea to discuss innovation in public administration
By Kim Hyun-soo
INCHEON, June 24 (Yonhap) -- An annual United Nations meeting on public governance opened in Songdo, west of Seoul, on Monday, bringing together about 2,000 officials from some 100 countries to discuss ways to innovate public administration.
The U.N. Public Service Forum has been held every year since 2003 to discuss challenges in public administration and innovative practices to tackle them. This year's three-day meeting marks the first time in five years that the forum has been held in person after the pandemic.
During the opening ceremony, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min stressed the importance of innovation in public service in the face of the fast-changing environment and complex crises, including extreme weather conditions, and international solidarity and cooperation in securing sustainable peace and prosperity.
"Innovation in public administration is important if the world is going to overcome crises in a rapidly changing environment and enjoy sustainable peace and prosperity," Lee said.
He added that South Korea is focusing on realizing what he called a "digital platform government" while taking advantage of artificial intelligence, big data and other advanced digital technologies.
The opening ceremony also included an address by U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, a congratulatory message from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and a keynote speech by former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
This year's forum, held under the theme "Fostering Innovation amid Global Challenges: a Public Sector Perspective," will include three plenary sessions and various workshops to discuss the direction of public service in order to attain the goals of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The annual forum was last held in person in Azerbaijan in 2019 before turning to online meetings for the following four years due to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, an exhibition will be set up at the convention center, displaying the recipients of the 2024 U.N. public service award, and introducing innovative cases of the digital platform government and public innovation in South Korea.
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