South Korea

Scope

Effective late January 2026, the law applies to corporations or individuals involved in the development, deployment, or operation of AI systems that impact the domestic Korean market or users within Korea. It shall not apply to AI that is developed and used solely for purposes of national defence or national security.

Key Obligations

AI Ethics

Ethical principles may be realized by all persons involved in the development and utilization of AI, and shall make such measures public, promote and integrate them into education

Safety and Trustworthiness of AI

Ensure that the development and utilization of AI do not cause harm to human life, physical well-being, or mental health

Accessibility

Ensure that all people may freely and conveniently use products and services powered by AI technology

High-Impact AI Transparency

Impact Assessment of High-Impact AI

AI Business Operator Obligations

AI business operators shall, in advance, review whether an AI system, or products or services utilizing such system, that they intend to provide qualifies as high-impact AI, and shall implement measures including 1. Establishment and operation of a risk management plan; 2. provide explanations, to the extent technically feasible, regarding the final outputs generated by AI, the principal criteria used in deriving such outputs, and an overview of the learning data used in the development and utilization of AI; 3. establishment and operation of measures for user protection; 4. human oversight of the operation of high-impact AI; 5. and documentation demonstrating the measures taken to ensure safety and trustworthiness
AI business operators who intend to provide products or services utilizing high-impact AI or generative AI (hereinafter referred to as "GenAI") shall notify users in advance that such products or services are operated based on the relevant AI
Where providing GenAI or products or services utilizing GenAI, AI business operators shall clearly indicate to users that the outputs are generated by GenAI
Where AI systems generate virtual audio, images, or video that are difficult to distinguish from real content, AI business operators shall notify or indicate to users, in a manner that allows clear recognition, that such content has been generated by an AI system. Provided, that where such outputs constitute, or form part of, artistic or creative works, such notification or indication may be made in a manner that does not interfere with their exhibition or enjoyment
AI business operators shall, with respect to AI systems whose cumulative computing capacity used for training meets or exceeds the threshold, implement safety measures such as identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks throughout the entire lifecycle of the AI system; and establishment and maintenance of a risk management framework capable of monitoring and responding to AI safety incidents

Domestic Representative

AI business operators without a domestic address or place of business in the Republic of Korea, whose number of users, revenue, etc., meet the criteria, shall designate in writing a person to act as their domestic representative

South Korea

Scope

Key obligations