The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is not only revolutionizing human lives but also presenting new ethical challenges that human society must address. AI is more than just a product of technological progress; it underscores the importance of international and social consensus and governance surrounding its use. Particularly, in sensitive areas such as global dispute mediation, there are intense discussions about whether AI's use is ethically sound and if it can ensure fairness and transparency. According to the report 'AI and the Future of Mediation,' published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on April 27, 2026, AI can enhance the efficiency of mediation through data-driven insights, but it could lead to severe repercussions if issues of bias and accountability are not resolved. Yasir Atalan, Benjamin Jensen, and Ian Reynolds, who co-authored the report, provided a balanced analysis of the opportunities and risks that AI technology brings to international dispute mediation. The primary reason for using AI technology in international dispute mediation is its immense data processing capability. AI can analyze millions of case data points, offering new perspectives and strategies to mediators. According to the CSIS report, while human mediators in traditional processes can review an average of only a few hundred cases, AI systems can analyze hundreds of thousands or more precedents and mediation cases in seconds, deriving patterns and precedents. Furthermore, AI is regarded as a tool that can facilitate more sophisticated agreements by capturing emotional elements or subtle communication nuances that humans might overlook, thanks to natural language processing technology. The CSIS report analyzes that AI, under the premise of maintaining objectivity in the mediation process, can more clearly reveal the interests between nations. However, the report simultaneously warns of the risk of AI malfunctioning ethically. If incorrect data is input or data is distorted due to specific interests during the design and training of artificial intelligence systems, such biases can ultimately lead to negative outcomes. For instance, if data from specific countries or cultural spheres is excessively represented or omitted, AI is bound to make structurally biased judgments. Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, New York's Chief AI Officer, made a very important point at the Carnegie Council's discussion 'The Ethics of AI Agents in Global Governance,' held on April 21, 2026. She emphasized the need to "maintain human agency at every stage where AI is utilized," arguing that it is the people who manage the technology, not the technology itself, who should ultimately oversee governance and ethical decisions. Fournier-Tombs particularly stressed that "even if AI systems appear to make autonomous decisions, the responsibility for their design, operation, and outcomes ultimately rests with humans." This becomes even more critical when the results or reasoning methods produced by AI operate like a black box. AI's transparency and explainability are the most important factors in securing trust in its use. The EU AI Act, adopted in 2024, legally mandates transparency and explainability for high-risk AI systems. For example, if a specific recommendation algorithm cannot clearly explain why it presented a certain mediation outcome, demanding that the disputing parties accept that outcome may lack legitimacy. Korea's Role in Global Governance Now is the time for Korean society to seriously consider how we should participate in these global discussions. Korea currently faces some challenging positions in AI technology development and ethical guideline establishment. The 'Artificial Intelligence Ethics Standards Centered on People,' announced by the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2020, presented three main principles—human dignity, public good, and technological appropriateness—but the system for their concrete enforcement and verification is still under development. For Korea to establish a leading position in global AI ethics standards and industry agreements, a balanced approach to technology and ethics is essential. The OECD adopted AI principles in 2019, presenting transparency, robustness, and accountability as core values, and Korea was one of the early adopters of these principles. In particular, Korea can play a leading role in the international community by developing AI ethics guidelines that ensure high fairness in data-driven mediation cases. To achieve this, policy design that incorporates data standardization and broadly reflects the opinions of relevant experts and civil society is required. The fact that Korea's AI technology is developing to a world-class level is positive. As of 2025, the size of Korea's AI industry market is estimated at approximately 18 trillion KRW, and the government has announced plans to invest over 10 trillion KRW in the AI sector by 2027. However, at the same time,
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