Saudi Arabia Showcases Global Leadership in AI and Translation with Symposium in Seoul

Riyadh – The King Abdulaziz Public Library will host an international symposium in Seoul on September 30, bringing together distinguished experts from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and South Korea to explore the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in translation.

Titled “Translation and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges”, the event is part of the prestigious 11th King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation and reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing role in fostering innovation, dialogue, and cultural exchange on a global stage.

The symposium will highlight how AI is reshaping the translation industry by making communication faster, more accurate, and more inclusive.

Experts will share insights on new AI-powered tools, practical applications for translators, and ways to balance innovation with ethics, cultural nuance, and intellectual property rights.

The program will open with addresses by Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar, general supervisor of the King Abdulaziz Public Library, and Park Jeong-woon, president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

The morning session, “Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Translation”, will be led by Professor Yoon Eun Kyung, head of the Arabic Studies Department. Presentations will feature Dr. Yahya Al-Zahrani on cutting-edge AI translation tools, and Professor Woon Baek on optimizing collaboration between humans and machines for better accuracy.

Ethical questions will also be addressed. Dr. Buthaina Al-Thuwaini will explore copyright and authorship in her talk “Who Owns the Translated Text? Ethical Issues in the Age of AI.”

The afternoon will spotlight Arabic translation, with Dr. Mai Al-Rashed moderating a session on the complexities of Arabic–Korean language exchange. Professor Kwak Sun Lee will share findings from bilateral translation research, while Mohammed Didaoui, former chief of UN Arabic Translation, will discuss responsible strategies for adopting AI in translation.

Organizers stressed that the symposium not only advances the role of AI in translation but also deepens international cooperation in language and culture. By engaging leading academics and experts, Saudi Arabia continues to promote innovation while reinforcing the importance of dialogue, diversity, and cultural understanding in a rapidly changing digital era.