Framework Act on the Development of AI and Establishment of Trust (AI Basic Act)
Asia's first comprehensive AI law — a promotion-plus-trust framework with transparency and labelling duties, extra obligations for 'high-impact' AI, human oversight, and extraterritorial reach over foreign providers.
Overview
Asia's first comprehensive AI law — a promotion-plus-trust framework with transparency and labelling duties, extra obligations for 'high-impact' AI, human oversight, and extraterritorial reach over foreign providers.
Key dates
- Dec 26, 2024Passed by the National Assembly
- Jan 21, 2025Promulgated
- Jan 22, 2026In force
Risk areas addressed
Who it applies to
AI businesses operating in Korea, including foreign providers whose AI affects the Korean market (who must appoint a domestic representative).
Penalties & enforcement
Administrative fines for breaches (e.g. transparency/high-impact duties).
Enforced by: Ministry of Science and ICT
Whatever your exposure to South Korea AI Basic Act, the practical work is the same: inventory the AI systems in scope, map them to concrete obligations, and keep the evidence to show it. A structured AI governance programme — risk assessments, documentation and continuous monitoring — turns a moving regulatory target into a repeatable process.