Republic of Korea: Introduced Act Fostering the AI Industry and Establishing a Foundation for Trustworthy AI

On 14 February 2023, the Act Fostering the AI Industry and Establishing a Foundation for Trustworthy AI passed the Science, ICT, Broadcasting Committee of the Korean Assembly. The Act incorporates previous proposals to establish a comprehensive regulatory regime for the Korean AI industry. The Act aims to both foster the AI industry and protect users by imposing requirements for "trust" on certain systems. To foster the AI industry, the Act establishes that AI can be developed without governmental pre-approval as well as a "Basic Plan for AI" and an "AI Committee" to guide AI development in Korea. To increase trust, the Act establishes ethical principles for AI and requirements for "high-risk AI", determined through criteria including direct human connection and safety.