AI and Governance: Civil Servants from Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Asia-Pacific Explored Korea’s and Other OECD Countries’ Experience

Seoul, Republic of Korea – October 2025.

More than 30 civil servants from 12 countries across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Asia-Pacific gathered in Seoul to explore Korea’s leadership in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to digital governance. The participants took part in a series of events, including a thematic workshop and the OECD Global Forum on AI in Government, which served as an international platform for sharing experiences, learning from Korea’s best practices, and discussing the future of digital government.

As part of the programme, participants gained insights into the innovative approaches of the Government of the Republic of Korea in leveraging AI to enhance the quality and efficiency of public services. The agenda featured presentations by representatives of Korean ministries, agencies, and the OECD, as well as a field visit to Pangyo Techno Valley (Maum AI), where delegations observed practical examples of public–private collaboration in AI development and application.

 

Opening the event, Mr. Byung Joon Park, Director of Digital Government Cooperation at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) of the Republic of Korea, emphasized that “the adoption of AI and emerging technologies in the public sector is no longer a choice, but a necessity”. He underlined that international cooperation remains vital for fostering innovation and ensuring sustainable digital governance.

In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Alikhan Baimenov, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Astana Civil Service Hub (ACSH), noted that humanity is already living in an era where humans and AI coexist and complement each other. He stressed that there is “no universal model for AI governance,” highlighting that responsible and human-centred approaches can only be achieved through dialogue and international cooperation. 

 

Speaking on behalf of the participating countries, Mr. Keovysouk Solaphom, Deputy Minister of Technology and Communications of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, underlined the significance of inter-regional cooperation as a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in digital transformation.

During the workshop, country representatives presented their national experiences—highlighting achievements, challenges, and priorities in integrating AI into public administration systems. The event was part of an inter-regional project aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil servants in digital transformation, funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea and implemented in partnership with UNDP and the ACSH.

  

Following the workshop, participants took part in the OECD Global Forum on AI in Government, where the OECD Digital Government Review of Korea, prepared jointly by the OECD team and the Government of Korea, was officially launched. The event also featured the presentation of the joint publication “Global Approaches to AI Governance: Policy, Legal, and Regulatory Perspectives”, developed by MOIS, the National Information Society Agency (NIA), UNDP and the ACSH. The publication consolidates global experiences and provides practical recommendations for countries advancing responsible and ethical AI use within their digital governance agendas.

A key highlight of the Forum included addresses by H.E. Min Jae Kim, Vice Minister of MOIS; Ms. Gillian Dorner, Deputy Director of the OECD Public Governance Directorate; Mr. Alikhan Baimenov, Chairman of the ACSH; and Ms. Kyung Mee Chang, Senior Vice President of NIA. In their remarks, they underscored the importance of international standards, joint initiatives, and collaborative mechanisms to strengthen public trust and enhance governance efficiency in the digital era.

During the visit, bilateral meetings were held between Mr. Alikhan Baimenov and H.E. Min Jae Kim, where both sides discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation and advance joint initiatives in digital governance. Mr. Baimenov also met with Ms. Gillian Dorner to explore future collaboration and knowledge exchange between the ACSH and the OECD in advancing public sector innovation and modernization.

The Global AI Forum reaffirmed the growing importance of collective action and knowledge sharing among nations to ensure that digital transformation and the use of AI in governance are guided by principles of responsibility, inclusiveness, and trust.

Materials of the event are available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1m46pL_UvV28qcK55VYLsxK5_I-ZCO4UB?usp=sharing 
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For reference: The inter-regional project “Capacity Building of Public Servants for Advancing Digital Transformation and Digital Governance” includes 12 countries from Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan), the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), and the Asia-Pacific region (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, and the Philippines). The project features seminars, conferences, research, and study visits to the Republic of Korea, focusing on advancing digital transformation and governance.