The Korean Studies Center at Nazarbayev University is pleased to launch a guest lecture series this fall as part of the Korea Foundation-funded project “Artificial Intelligence and Korea’s Strategic Engagement: Implications for Kazakhstan and Central Asia.”
Bringing together leading Korean experts in artificial intelligence policy and governance, the series will host five distinguished specialists from South Korea between September and November 2026. Through a comparative examination of Korean and Kazakhstani approaches to AI development and regulation, the project aims to explore emerging opportunities for cooperation and discuss what an AI-driven developmental state may look like for middle powers in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The lecture series will open on September 18, 2026, with a presentation by Dr. Kyungho Song, Senior Researcher in the AI Safety Policy and Strategic Cooperation Division at Korea’s Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI), operating under the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). Dr. Song holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Yonsei University and specializes in AI governance, safety policy, and international regulatory cooperation.
His lecture, “AI Governance and Safety in Korea,” will examine South Korea’s evolving framework for AI governance and its position within the broader global regulatory environment. Drawing on his work in drafting guidelines for high-capability frontier AI models under Article 32 of Korea’s AI Basic Act, as well as his comparative analysis of the Act alongside the European Union’s AI Act conducted with the Future of Life Institute, Dr. Song will provide insights into contemporary approaches to AI regulation, safety, and international policy coordination.
The lecture offers a valuable opportunity for students, researchers, policymakers, and members of the wider community interested in the future of artificial intelligence governance, regulation, and international cooperation.
