A project is set to train more than 1,000 students attending 28 Korean schools in the San Francisco area as “global digital independence fighters” of the 21st century, tasked with protecting data sovereignty.
San Francisco holds deep historical significance as the birthplace of the Korean independence movement in the United States, where figures such as Ahn Chang-ho, Lee Dae-wi, and Kim Jong-rim were active, and where the Korean National Association was founded 117 years ago.
Against this historical backdrop, the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK), led by Park Gi-tae, announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on March 21, 2026 (local time) in San Francisco with the Korean Schools of Northern California (KSNC), headed by Kwak Eun-ah, to jointly promote an “AI Korean Diplomats” training program.
The agreement carries particular significance as it takes place in San Francisco, where global big tech companies such as Google, Meta, and Apple are shaping the world. It marks a moment in which the next generation of Korean Americans will awaken as “AI diplomats” in the heart of the global technology industry. As artificial intelligence rapidly absorbs vast amounts of data and increasingly functions as a global textbook, these students are stepping onto the front lines of protecting data sovereignty—identifying inaccuracies about Korea within AI systems and promoting correct historical understanding.
Since its establishment in 1991, KSNC has worked to preserve the Korean language and historical identity abroad. It is now a major educational network in the United States, comprising 28 schools, around 150 teachers, and more than 1,000 students.
Under the agreement, the two organizations will jointly carry out a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing Korea’s national image. These include training teachers and students as AI diplomats; a “Campaign for Truth” to identify and correct errors about Korea in U.S. elementary, middle, and high school textbooks as well as AI training data; a “Rediscovering Proud Roots” initiative to promote globally the history of Korean immigration and the independence movement in the San Francisco region; and an “Algorithm Correction” effort to provide accurate information about Korea to major Silicon Valley technology companies.
To support these efforts, VANK will provide advanced training programs for AI diplomats along with digital resources on Korean history and culture. The participating students are expected to grow into “AI Korean diplomats” who can input sophisticated prompts into generative AI, creatively promote Korea’s culture and appeal to global audiences, and respond logically and confidently to historical distortions.
Park Gi-tae, head of VANK, emphasized the significance of the initiative, saying that at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming a dominant channel for global knowledge, it is meaningful that Korean youth are taking the lead in correcting misinformation and teaching accurate history. He added that the emergence of 1,000 Korean American students as AI diplomats in Silicon Valley represents a major starting point in building a global digital network connecting 7.5 million overseas Koreans and 200 million fans of Korean culture worldwide. He also stressed that every interaction these students have with AI systems will contribute to teaching algorithms more accurate information about Korea.
Kwak Eun-ah, head of KSNC, also expressed her aspirations, saying that the organization’s 150 dedicated teachers and 1,000 students are moving beyond simple classroom-based language education. She said they will play a leading role in introducing Korea’s spirit and identity to mainstream American society and the wider world by using AI as a powerful tool.
As a first step under the agreement, VANK and KSNC held a training session for teachers on March 21, 2026, followed by an “AI Diplomat Hackathon Camp” for Korean American youth on March 22, 2026. Additional training sessions for teachers in the Bay Area and Sacramento are scheduled to take place on March 21 and March 23, 2026.
During the March 21 session, Park delivered a keynote lecture titled “We Are the AI Diplomats of Korea,” encouraging teachers to take an active role in correcting distorted historical narratives. He noted that ordinary individuals—not just political leaders—have long played a crucial role in safeguarding Korea’s history, and called on educators to step forward as AI diplomats.
VANK researchers also provided practical guidance. Kwon So-young encouraged teachers to act as “one-person AI embassies,” using AI to create promotional posters, short-form videos, and music to communicate with global audiences. Koo Seung-hyun highlighted that, just as VANK has corrected errors in foreign textbooks, maps, encyclopedias, museums, and galleries worldwide, teachers can now go even further by using AI to present accurate information about Korea on a global scale.
The momentum from the teacher training is expected to extend directly to students. At the upcoming hackathon camp, participants will identify and correct misinformation about Korea within AI platforms and create their own content to promote the country’s culture and history, carrying forward the spirit of their predecessors into the digital age.
The vision first embraced by the early Korean community in San Francisco 117 years ago is now being carried forward by 1,000 young AI diplomats, reaching out to the world once again.
Meanwhile, Park also announced plans to build a global AI diplomat network connecting 7.5 million overseas Koreans and 200 million international fans of Korean culture, building on the legacy of transnational Korean networks established more than a century ago.
Following the training, Kwak said the program had provided profound encouragement and support to teachers who have long worked to promote Korea across the United States. She added that, like the Korean independence activists in America who once dedicated their lives to their country, they too will work with VANK to share an accurate understanding of Korea with the world.