South Korea has become the first nation to join First Lady Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future Together initiative through a landmark technology agreement signed during President Donald Trump’s recent Asia visit, the White House announced Wednesday.
The deal — known as the U.S.–Korea Technology Prosperity Deal — formalizes cooperation on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies between the two countries. It also marks the inaugural partnership under Mrs. Trump’s global coalition promoting child welfare in the digital age.
“I am proud that the Republic of Korea is joining my global coalition to empower children through the promotion of technology, innovation, and education,” Mrs. Trump said. “As a longstanding leader in technological advancement, the Republic of Korea will offer invaluable insights to the participating nations in the Fostering the Future Together initiative.”
Developed jointly by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of the First Lady, the agreement includes provisions supporting responsible technology use and online youth protection.
Launched at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Fostering the Future Together seeks to harness artificial intelligence to help educators, parents, and children while safeguarding them from online dangers. Major technology companies have agreed to make such tools available to participating nations at little or no cost.
Participating first spouses will work with their governments to assess and implement available technologies that create educational opportunities, train teachers and parents, and design advanced learning environments for children.
Mrs. Trump plans to host the coalition’s inaugural meeting at the White House in 2026, where members will share progress reports and policy recommendations on youth digital safety. The initiative builds upon her earlier BE BEST platform focused on child well-being and online responsibility.