UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | President Lee Jae-myung met with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann on 9 September, local time, marking the 30th anniversary of South Korea's accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The two leaders reviewed three decades of cooperation and discussed future collaboration on inclusive growth, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
During the meeting, both sides agreed that as the global economy confronts complex challenges—including demographic shifts, low growth, technological innovation and supply chain restructuring—Korea and the OECD should pursue joint solutions grounded in objective analysis and policy experience.
Lee: OECD a key partner in Korea's development
President Lee described the OECD as a vital partner in Korea's economic and social development over the past 30 years, and expressed Korea's commitment to contributing actively to the organization's work on global prosperity and human welfare, drawing on the country's accumulated experience in economic, social and scientific-technological fields. Noting the intensification of polarization globally, Lee emphasized the growing importance of inclusive growth for sustainable economic development and called on the OECD to pay closer attention to these issues, pledging to strengthen Korea's cooperation with the organization in this area.
Cormann: Korea's growth "inspires the world"
Secretary-General Cormann praised Korea's transformation since joining the OECD from a recipient of development aid into a donor nation and major global exporter. Korea graduated from the list of Official Development Assistance recipients in 2000 and, in 2010, became the first former aid recipient to join the OECD's Development Assistance Committee. Cormann said Korea's development trajectory serves as an inspiration for many countries and voiced agreement on the need for inclusive growth. He also welcomed Korea's active participation in OECD activities, including its role as vice-chair of this year's OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, and expressed hope for deeper cooperation in areas such as AI and digital transformation.
Cooperation on AI and digital transformation
President Lee stressed the growing importance of reliable, objective analysis and policy recommendations amid a rapidly shifting global economic landscape, and requested that the OECD continue providing policy advice to support Korea's sustainable development. Both sides agreed on the importance of the international community developing common solutions to challenges including demographic change, low growth, AI-driven technological innovation and global supply chain restructuring, and agreed to explore cooperative measures to secure new growth engines for the AI era.
Traditional Korean art sets the diplomatic backdrop
The meeting's setting also drew attention, with a large folding screen featuring "Ilwol Obongdo," or "Painting of the Sun, Moon and Five Peaks," displayed behind the two leaders. The traditional work, which depicts the sun, moon, five mountain peaks, pine trees and waves, is historically associated with the royal court of the Joseon Dynasty and is regarded as an iconic image representing Korean folk painting and traditional art.
Officials noted that its inclusion in the diplomatic setting served as a way of introducing Korea's history and aesthetic traditions in the context of a meeting focused on economic policy and the AI era.
The meeting offered an occasion to reflect on three decades of Korea's OECD membership while identifying directions for future cooperation centered on inclusive growth and digital transformation.
