▲ Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (R) shakes hands with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk during a meeting in Seoul on May 13, 2026, in this photo provided by the Prime Minister's Office. (Yonhap)

PM-UN envoy

PM meets with U.N. human rights chief

SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Wednesday and discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides, officials said.

Turk said South Korea is an important strategic partner of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and has made various contributions at the global human rights field, and that he hopes to continue to strengthen cooperation with the country, according to Kim's office.

Kim said South Korea attaches great importance to values like human rights and democracy, and hopes to return the help the country had received from the international community in the past and will pursue close cooperation with OHCHR in the course of such efforts.

As a leader in artificial technology, South Korea is trying to establish a "global AI hub" with U.N. agencies, through which discussions can take place not only on technologies but also on issues related to ethics and standards, Kim said, adding that similar discussions can also happen with OHCHR in the context of AI and human rights.

Turk said he sees a point in efforts for the global AI hub, and OHCHR is willing to provide cooperation.

The U.N. human rights chief also expressed his interest in North Korea's human rights issues, such as the issue of those kidnapped and held by the North, saying OHCHR will play necessary roles. Kim said the two sides should continue to communicate on such issues.

Turk arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for a three-day visit. He is the first U.N. human rights chief to pay an official visit to the country in 11 years.

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