The provincial government has established a task force led by Vice Gov. Lee Chang-heum to prepare its bid for the project, which aims to bring international organizations, development banks and research institutions together to address global challenges through AI.
The task force comprises four working groups responsible for international cooperation, living conditions for international personnel, public outreach and pilot projects. The Jeju Research Institute is also providing advisory support.
The Global AI Hub is a South Korean government initiative designed to establish an international campus where researchers, policymakers and representatives of international organizations can collaborate on AI solutions to challenges including climate change, public health, food security and employment.
The government aims to select a location by the end of 2026 and open the hub in 2027.
The initiative was formally unveiled on May 21, with nine international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), alongside five multilateral development banks, including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
The participating organizations agreed to pursue cooperation under the vision of "AI for All, AI to Solve Global Challenges."
Jeju is emphasizing its existing international cooperation infrastructure as a major advantage over competing regions.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has operated its Jeju International Training Center since 2010. In 2025, the center's programs attracted 7,049 participants from approximately 150 countries, according to the Jeju Research Institute.
A recent institute report also highlighted an international training program on inclusive digital governance in the Asia-Pacific region that attracted 509 participants from 63 countries.
Jeju is home to the Global Center of the National Information Society Agency (NIA), which supports international cooperation in information and communications technology and digital capacity-building programs for developing countries.
Provincial authorities believe these existing institutions could support AI training, policy consultation and international research without requiring entirely new cooperation networks.
Additional plans include a green AI data center and expanded research facilities, although those projects remain under development.
Jeju officials have also cited the island's visa-free entry arrangements, international airport, convention facilities and English-language education infrastructure as advantages for attracting overseas researchers and international organization personnel.
"We will do our utmost to develop a concrete and competitive strategy by drawing on Jeju's experience in international cooperation and its testing infrastructure," Ahn Hye-young, head of Jeju's AI Innovation Promotion Division, said.
Jeju faces competition from other local governments, including Busan, Incheon and Gwangju, which have also expressed interest in hosting the hub.
The central government has outlined a competitive selection process involving proposal evaluations and on-site inspections before determining the final location.
If selected, Jeju would become a base for international AI cooperation, connecting United Nations agencies, development institutions and researchers working on technological solutions to global challenges.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
