United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell interacts with children at Amamiria Boys’ School in Kassala State in Sudan, Dec. 9, 2025. Courtesy of UNICEF

Once one of the world’s poorest countries, Korea has become one of UNICEF’s largest donors — a transformation the agency’s executive director calls “one of the most remarkable in modern history.”

“Korea has gone from being a recipient to a leading donor and one of UNICEF’s most important global partners ... Korea is a shining example that with the right investments in children — in education, health, nutrition and protection — transformation is possible,” UNICEF chief Catherine Russell told The Korea Times in a written interview ahead of her visit to Seoul.

Korea now contributes $228.5 million to UNICEF annually from public and private sources combined, ranking sixth globally in 2025. Since joining the OECD Development Assistance Committee in 2010, the Korean government alone has contributed more than $800 million to UNICEF programs, helping reach over 110 million children worldwide.

“What sets Korea apart is that it’s not just one type of partnership. It’s everything, all at once. I sometimes describe it as a whole-of-ecosystem partnership,” Russell said.

A central focus of her two-day visit is UNICEF’s potential participation in Korea’s Global AI Hub initiative, which seeks global cooperation to develop AI-based solutions to humanitarian challenges. Russell said the two sides are moving toward signing a letter of intent, calling it “a significant step” that signals UNICEF’s commitment to help shape the initiative.

“For us, what matters most is that the Hub becomes a credible multilateral platform. That means strong governance, sustainable financing, and critically, robust safeguards to ensure that AI is developed and deployed responsibly, especially when it comes to protecting children,” she said.

Russell noted that UNICEF is exploring AI-enabled early warning systems capable of predicting humanitarian crises before they fully develop, as well as digital platforms to extend health and education services to children in remote areas. She stressed, however, that technology must be deployed responsibly.

“We know all too well that AI can pose real risks for children, whether through privacy violations, biased systems or misuse. Any technology we deploy has to have solid, child-rights safeguards built in from the start, not added as an afterthought,” she said.

Below is an excerpt from an interview with Russell, edited for clarity and readability.

Source: Korea Times News