UK-Republic of Korea Digital Partnership Forum: joint statement
Published 16 December 2025
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The United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea convened the second UK-Republic of Korea Digital Partnership Forum in Seoul on 16 December 2025. The Forum was attended by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, led by the UK Minister for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan MP, and the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT, led by the 2nd Vice Minister for Science and ICT, Ryu Je myung.
The Forum reaffirmed our shared commitment to deepening our technology ecosystems through the UK-ROK Digital Partnership, delivering growth and strengthening resilience and security. At the Ministerial plenary, both sides celebrated 2 years of cooperation in our shared priorities, welcomed progress across the 4 pillars of the Partnership, and set the strategic direction for future collaboration.
The Forum featured a dedicated business track, bringing together leading VCs and AI companies from both sides for networking, knowledge exchange, and to explore commercial partnerships.
As technology rapidly advances and increasingly impacts people, businesses, and governments in the UK, ROK, and around the world, this Forum underscored the importance of the Digital Partnership as a crucial framework for collaboration.
Key outcomes and future commitments
Pillar 1: Strengthening digital Infrastructure
Telecommunications
The inaugural meeting of the UK-ROK Knowledge Sharing Program on 6G Standards took place in Seoul in November 2025, enabling industry stakeholders to share insights and discuss strategies for future 6G deployment and standardisation. The next meeting will be held in London in January 2026. Both sides agreed to continue exploratory discussions on a potential future joint R&D project, building on the ongoing exchanges and reflecting shared priorities in emerging connectivity technologies.
Semiconductors
The inaugural UK-RoK Semiconductor Stakeholder Forum took place in Seoul in February 2025, providing opportunities to exchange expertise and align research priorities. MSIT also invited UK researchers to participate in the EU-RoK International Research Forum in June 2025, further strengthening research collaboration.
Pillar 2: Fostering technological innovation
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Both governments are focused on AI opportunities through the growth and development of their respective AI infrastructure and wider ecosystems. The Forum provided a platform to explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration in line with UK AI Opportunities Action Plan and ROK’s AI Action Plan. The UK AI Security Institute (AISI) and the Korean AI Safety Institute continue to work closely through the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science, advancing discussions on safe and trustworthy AI. Both institutes will continue to collaborate closely on advancing AI safety research and developing joint initiatives to address emerging AI safety and security risks, ensuring that our efforts contribute to the creation of a safe and trustworthy AI ecosystem globally.
Connecting our tech ecosystems
The Forum brought together high-potential AI companies from both countries, creating a platform for networking and knowledge exchange to foster commercial partnerships and innovation. The UK AI companies participating in the trade mission were Cusp AI, PhysicsX, Secondmind, Monolith AI and Abound. UK deep-tech Venture Capital firms also participated in the Forum, bringing technology investment expertise to the business track. DSIT supported a largescale networking event in Seoul, connecting over 100 leaders, practitioners and technical experts working on AI from across industry, academia and government.
Pillar 3: Reinforcing multi-stakeholder approaches
Digital Standards
The UK-ROK Knowledge Sharing Program on Building Capacity in Digital and Critical Technologies Standards concluded successfully in 2025. The program establishing important expert-to-expert connections and has served as a foundation from which further technology-specific collaboration is being taken forward. Both sides will continue to build on the Knowledge Sharing Program’s findings to strengthen national and international standardisation strategies.
Pillar 4: Enhancing cybersecurity and securing critical technologies
Both countries agreed to explore further opportunities for collaboration, particularly the cybersecurity of AI, to ensure resilience and trust in critical technologies, including within the framework of the UK-Republic of Korea Cyber Dialogue.
This Forum reaffirmed the UK and ROK’s shared vision of a secure, innovative, and inclusive digital future. Both governments are committed to deepening our collaboration and leveraging our complementary strengths to drive technological advancements and economic growth. We look forward to continued and enhanced cooperation under the UK-ROK Digital Partnership, ensuring that our joint efforts contribute to a more prosperous and resilient digital ecosystem for both nations.