The following document is South Korea’s overarching AI law, passed in January 2025 and slated to take effect in January 2026. Its provisions include incentives to attract foreign AI experts to South Korea, and a requirement that foreign AI companies operating in the country designate a Korean representative to liaise with the government on their behalf. Notably, the law establishes an AI safety research institute, encourages the creation of AI ethics committees, and includes many other measures related to AI safety and ethics.

An archived version of the Korean source text is available online at:    https://perma.cc/CL3T-VHZ6

Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust¹

[Enforced January 22, 2026] [Law No. 20676, Enacted January 21, 2025]

Chapter 1    General Provisions

Article 1  (Purpose) The purpose of this Act is to protect human rights and dignity, and to contribute to enhance the quality of life, while strengthening national competitiveness by establishing essential regulations for the sound development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the establishment of trust.

Article 2  (Definitions) The definitions of the terms used in this Act are as follows:

1. “Artificial Intelligence” refers to the electronic implementation of human intellectual abilities, such as learning, reasoning, perception, judgment, and understanding of language.
2. “AI System” refers to an AI-based system that infers results such as predictions, recommendations, and decisions that affect the real and virtual environment for a given objective with various levels of autonomy and adaptability.
3. “AI Technology” refers to hardware, software, or application technologies necessary for AI implementation.
4. “High-Impact AI” refers to AI systems that have the potential to significantly impact human life, safety, or fundamental rights, used in any of the following areas:

a) Supply of energy pursuant to Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Energy Act

b) Production processes of drinking water pursuant to Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Drinking Water Management Act

c) Establishment and operation of a system for providing and using health care services pursuant to Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Framework Act on Health and Medical Services

d) Development and use of medical devices pursuant to Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Devices Act and digital medical devices pursuant to Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Digital Medical Products Act

e) Safe management and operation of nuclear materials and facilities pursuant to Article 2, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 1 and 2 of the Act on Nuclear Facility Physical Protection and Radiological Emergencies

f) Analysis and utilization of biometric information (referring to personal information regarding physical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics that can identify individuals, such as face, fingerprints, iris, and palm veins) for criminal investigations or arrest operations

g) Judgments or evaluations that have a significant impact on the rights and obligations of an individual, such as employment and loan assessments

h) Major operations and management of transportation conveyances, transportation facilities, and transportation systems pursuant to Article 2, Paragraphs 1 through 3 of the Traffic Safety Act

i) Decision-making by the national and local governments, and public institutions pursuant to Article 4 of the Act on the Operation of Public Institutions (hereinafter the “National Institutions”) that affect the public, such as qualification verification and determination, or expense collection necessary for providing public services

j) Student assessment in early childhood education, elementary education, and secondary education pursuant to Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the Basic Education Act

k) Other areas that have a significant impact on the protection of human life, physical safety, and basic human rights, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

To view the rest of this translation, download the pdf below.

1. Translator’s note: This translation follows the 2024 edition of the Korea Legislation Research Institute (한국법제연구원) Korean-English Legal Translation Guidelines (한영 법령번역지침), page 50, in translating 기본법 as “framework act.” A more literal translation of the Act’s title would be “Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust.” An archived version of the Korean-English Legal Translation Guidelines is available online at: https://perma.cc/59J9-PZHQ.