South Korea is now facing a great challenge. The challenge is very complex, unlike in the past. If we do not properly respond to this challenge, there is a high possibility that the national development we have achieved so far will be stagnated.

The 21st century is very different from the times we were accustomed to living in the past. In today's world, as symbolized by ChatGPT, artificial intelligence and IT technology are developing rapidly, and the economies of countries are also closely intertwined. The same goes for the international situation. When an incident occurs in a country, the impact ripples throughout the world.

Therefore, the challenges we face are difficult to deal with in the ways we have become accustomed to. All academic fields must participate in a convergent manner to solve the problem together.

If we take the response to the climate and environmental crisis as an example, many issues are intertwined, such as the sharing of responsibilities between developed and developing countries, international cooperation, and the development of science and technology for efficient carbon emission reduction.

Many issues are also being raised about the impact artificial intelligence will have on humanity. International cooperation is required to have a positive impact on human development, the problem of technological gaps must be resolved, and ethical issues related to artificial intelligence must also be addressed.

In order for Korea to take a leap forward, it is necessary to shift from a follower to a leader. To achieve this, educational methods must be reformed to foster creative ideas and character.

In this situation, Seoul National University established the Institute for Future Strategy on February 24, 2022. The goal is to present solutions to the complex challenges we face through convergence and comprehensive academic research. I strongly agree with this purpose and have been inaugurated as the honorary director of the Institute for Future Strategy.

I served as Secretary-General of the United Nations for 10 years from 1997 to 2016. The United Nations is an organization that pursues universal values and exerts collective intelligence for the common prosperity of humanity. Going forward, as the Honorary Director of the Institute for Future Strategy at Seoul National University, I will make the most of my experience as the Secretary-General of the United Nations over the past 10 years to wisely overcome the challenges facing Korea and contribute to human development. I am confident that the Institute for Future Strategy will develop into Korea's representative think tank.