The South Korean government officially launched what it calls the world's first comprehensive artificial intelligence regulatory bill on January 22. According to AIbase, this bill, named the "Artificial Intelligence Basic Act," has been fully implemented, with its progress even surpassing the EU's planned phased implementation of similar regulations in 2027. South Korea aims to position itself among the world's top three AI powers by establishing a foundation of safety and trust.
Under the new law, companies must ensure that high-impact AI systems in areas such as nuclear safety, healthcare, transportation, and financial loan approvals are supervised by humans throughout the process. Additionally, for content generated by generative AI, if it is difficult for ordinary users to distinguish between real and fake, companies must clearly label it. Violators may face administrative fines of up to 30 million won (approximately 141,000 Chinese yuan).
Although the government has provided at least one year of compliance grace period, the response from the startup community in South Korea has been mixed. Many entrepreneurs are concerned that some provisions in the bill are ambiguously worded, and early and strict compliance requirements could increase operational burdens on companies, potentially forcing startups to abandon innovative research paths to avoid risks.
In response to industry concerns, President Yoon Suk Yeol stated that the government will listen to industry voices and maximize the potential of the AI industry through institutional support. The Ministry of Science and ICT also plans to establish a dedicated guidance platform and said it will consider further extending the grace period based on domestic and international situations to ease the survival pressure on startups.
Key Points:
⚖️ Global Regulatory Race: South Korea is the first to implement a comprehensive AI regulatory act, progressing faster than the EU, aiming to establish its leadership in the global AI field through legislation.
⚠️ Strong Red Line Constraints: For high-risk scenarios such as healthcare, finance, and nuclear energy, the act mandates human supervision and sets high fines for unmarked AI-generated content.
📉 Industry Innovation Concerns: Startups worry that ambiguous provisions may stifle innovation. The government is planning to ease industry pressure by extending the grace period and setting up support centers.
