Republic of Korea: Bill on Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust-Based Foundations (Bill no. DD20131) including design requirements enters into force

On 22 January 2026, the Bill on Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust-Based Foundations (Bill no. DD20131) enters into force. The Bill guides the ethical and responsible development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and incorporates 19 Bills for establishing rules for AI. The Bill defines the term "high-impact artificial intelligence" as an artificial intelligence system that may affect or cause danger to human life, physical safety, and fundamental rights and is used in energy supply, in the production of food, in the development of medical devices, in the management of nuclear materials, the analysis of biometric information and more. The Bill enables the government to establish AI ethics principles, including safety and reliability, accessibility, and assurance of AI that contributes to human life and prosperity. Lastly, the government is allowed to promote projects regarding verification and certification voluntarily promoted by organisations to ensure safe and reliable AI. These projects include guidelines on AI development.