
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook highlighted culture's role in fostering empathy and solidarity to address global challenges during a National Foundation Day speech, pledging to build an inclusive AI-basic society and improve livelihoods through housing, jobs, and financial support.
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National Foundation Day in South Korea commemorates the founding of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, and is observed on October 3 each year.
SEOUL, Oct. 3 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Han Seong-sook on Saturday underscored the power of culture in addressing the common challenges facing humanity, while pledging to build a society where the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) are spread evenly.
"With the great power of culture, we should broaden the scope of empathy and solidarity and take the lead in joining hands to share our experiences, technologies and cultural capabilities in addressing the common challenges facing humanity," Han said in a congratulatory speech marking National Foundation Day, which falls on Oct. 3.
She said doing so would be a way to realize the founding spirit of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, which calls for broadly benefiting humanity.
Han also vowed to push ahead with the government's plan to create an "AI-basic society," while ensuring that the transition does not "isolate anyone."
The Lee Jae Myung government has pledged to build an AI-basic society where people can access AI services regardless of their income, age or level of digital literacy, as part of its policy agenda.
Meanwhile, Han said the government will also focus on improving people's livelihoods by promoting housing stability, creating jobs and expanding financial support for ordinary citizens to ensure that the public can feel the benefits in their daily lives.

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President Lee Jae-myung refuted claims of harassment, saying that the dinner with former leader Chung Cheong-rae took place after a comforting phone call while hospitalized, and urged netizens to look at things from the right perspective.