Seoul, 20 January 2026 — The Philippine Embassy in Seoul hosted a Special Lecture and Roundtable on Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence at the Sentro Rizal Conference Room, bringing together ASEAN Heads of Mission and ROK partners, including the ASEAN-Korea Centre, for an exchange on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and ethical and responsible digital governance. The event forms part of the Philippines’ preparations for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, with a focus on advancing a human-centered and future-ready regional digital agenda.

In her opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez underscored the Philippines’ commitment, as ASEAN Chair, to promoting the safe, ethical, and sustainable use of artificial intelligence. She highlighted the Philippines’ vision of a harmonized and human-centered AI ecosystem across ASEAN, anchored on trust, accountability, and inclusivity, and guided by the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics.

The roundtable featured a special lecture by H.E. Ambassador Tanel Sepp of the Republic of Estonia, who shared Estonia’s experience in digital transformation, cybersecurity resilience, and AI-enabled public services. He highlighted Estonia’s approach to cyber diplomacy as an integral component of foreign and security policy, emphasizing international cooperation to keep cyberspace safe, open, and accessible. H.E. Ambassador Wong Kai Jun of Singapore, Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul, welcomed the Philippines’ initiative and its timely contribution to ASEAN’s ongoing discussions on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. 

Participants from ASEAN Missions and partner institutions underscored the importance of regional and inter-regional cooperation, including with partners such as the European Union and the Republic of Korea, to advance shared standards, strengthen capacity-building, and foster an inclusive and secure digital ecosystem for the region. END