The National Assembly Building, the legislative branch of the Republic of Korea. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT said Wednesday it will begin a public review of the enforcement decree for the nation’s landmark Artificial Intelligence Basic Act, set to take effect on January 22, 2026.
The draft legislation, open for comment until December 22, outlines the country’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for AI governance, transparency, and accountability.
The ministry said it plans to introduce a grace period of at least one year before imposing fines to help companies adapt to the new rules. The enforcement decree was finalized after consultations with agencies including the Financial Services Commission, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission to avoid overlapping or inconsistent regulations.
Under the draft, large foreign tech companies operating in South Korea must designate a local representative if they meet certain thresholds—such as global revenue exceeding 1 trillion won, domestic service revenue over 10 billion won, or an average of more than 1 million daily Korean users.
The decree also requires providers of “high-impact” or generative AI systems to clearly notify users when a service or product is AI-driven. For synthetic content, such as deepfakes that are difficult to distinguish from reality, users must be explicitly informed that the material was generated by AI, with adjustments for age and accessibility.
The regulation classifies “high-impact AI” based on its potential effects on fundamental rights, the severity and frequency of risk, and its domain of use. Verification procedures for such systems will take up to 30 days, extendable once by an additional 30 days.
An AI impact assessment mechanism will also be introduced to evaluate how specific AI systems affect individual rights and to identify risk mitigation measures. During the initial grace period, the ministry will operate a support center to help businesses comply and gather industry feedback for future revisions.
Vice Minister Bae Kyung-hoon described the enforcement decree as “a foundation for solidifying South Korea’s position among the world’s top three AI powerhouses,” pledging to reflect diverse feedback from the public and private sectors during the legislative process.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
