Written by: Haim Ravia, Dotan Hammer
South Korea’s Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust took effect on January 22, 2026, creating a comprehensive regulatory framework to protect citizens while promoting AI innovation.
The law aims to protect citizens’ rights and dignity, improve the quality of life, and strengthen national competitiveness through sound AI development. It establishes a National AI Strategy Committee directly under the President, comprising up to 60 members who will deliberate on major AI policies for a five-year term.
A central feature is the designation of “high-impact AI” systems subject to enhanced oversight. These include AI used in energy supply, drinking water production, healthcare services, medical devices, nuclear facility management, biometric analysis for criminal investigations, employment and loan assessments, transportation operations, government decision-making, and student evaluations.
The law imposes transparency obligations on AI businesses. Providers of high-impact or generative AI must notify users in advance that products or services operate based on such AI. Generative AI outputs must be labeled as AI-generated, and realistic synthetic audio, images, or video must be clearly disclosed.
For AI systems exceeding computational thresholds set by presidential decree, businesses must implement risk identification, assessment, and mitigation throughout the AI lifecycle and establish risk management systems for safety incidents.
High-impact AI providers must establish risk management plans, explainability measures, user protection protocols, and human oversight mechanisms. Foreign AI companies meeting certain user or revenue thresholds must designate domestic representatives.
The Korean Ministry of Science and ICT will operate an AI Safety Research Institute to analyze risks and develop safety standards. Violations of the law can result in fines up to 30 million won (approximately $21,000). The law applies to overseas activities affecting Korean markets or users, though AI developed solely for national defense purposes is exempt.
Click here to read the South Korean Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust (in Korean).
