AI Law TrackerAI Law Tracker
🔴Illinois HB 3773IN EFFECTUp to ~$70K/violation|🔴Texas TRAIGA (HB 149)IN EFFECTAG-enforced|🔴Utah AI Policy ActIN EFFECT$2,500/violation|⚠️Colorado AI Act (SB 205)Jan 1, 2027AG-enforced|⚠️California SB 942Aug 2, 2026$5K/day|⚠️EU AI Act Art. 50Aug 2, 2026€35M or 7% revenue|⚠️New York RAISE ActJan 1, 2027AG civil penalties|
Global AI lawFlag of South KoreaIn Effect (Jan 22, 2026)

AI Laws in South Korea

South Korea's AI Basic Act — the first comprehensive national AI framework in Asia — took effect on January 22, 2026, with a one-year grace period before fines are enforced. Operators must determine whether their system is 'high-impact AI' (used in healthcare, hiring, biometrics, or public services) and, if so, provide explanations of outputs, ensure human oversight, and run risk and fundamental-rights impact assessments. All providers must label AI-generated content and disclose AI interaction; large foreign providers must appoint a Korea-based domestic representative. Administrative fines reach KRW 30 million.

By · Editorial Team
Published Reviewed
Map showing the location of South Korea in the world
South Korea on the world map

Applicable laws

📜 Basic Act on the Development of AI and Establishment of Trust (AI Basic Act, effective Jan 22, 2026)
📜 AI Basic Act Enforcement Decree (MSIT)
📜 Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)

Penalty: Administrative fines up to KRW 30 million

Live · msit.go.kr + pipc.go.kr (official, no account required)

AI-specific legislation (6)

Updated September 5, 2026

Bills and instruments in South Korea whose own subject is artificial intelligence or automated decision-making, pulled automatically from the official legislature feed. See our scope definition.

Legislative Notice Issued on Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the AI Basic Act to Strengthen Support for the AI IndustryDraft regulation
Proposed·→
The AI Basic Act Comes into Force to Lay the Foundation for Korea to Become an AI G3Act / Enforcement Decree
In force·→
인공지능 발전과 신뢰 기반 조성 등에 관한 기본법 시행령 (Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Creation of a Foundation for Trust)Presidential Decree
In force·→
인공지능 발전과 신뢰 기반 조성 등에 관한 기본법 (Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Creation of a Foundation for Trust)Act
In force·→
MSIT Announces Legislative Notice for the Enforcement Decree of the AI Basic Act to Foster the AI Industry and Build a Foundation for Safety and TrustDraft regulation
Proposed·→
A New Chapter in the Age of AI: Basic Act on AI Passed at the National Assembly‘s Plenary SessionAct
Enacted·→
Voluntary · not law

Guidance & voluntary frameworks (6)

Official AI frameworks, codes of conduct and guidelines in effect in South Korea. None of these is legislation and none creates a legal obligation by itself, so they are counted separately from binding law — never added to it. See our scope definition.

kr-pipc-guide-12436VoluntaryGuidance

공공 AX 프라이버시 보호 안내서(2026.7.)

· Current guidance·→
kr-msit-1215VoluntaryGuidance

MSIT Releases Guidelines on Ensuring AI Transparency

· Published·→
kr-pipc-guide-11439VoluntaryGuidance

생성형 인공지능(AI) 개발·활용을 위한 개인정보 처리 안내서(2025.8.)

· Current guidance·→
kr-pipc-guide-11014VoluntaryGuidance

안전한 인공지능(AI) 데이터 활용을 위한 AI 프라이버시 리스크 관리 모델

· Current guidance·→
kr-pipc-guide-10613VoluntaryGuidance

자동화된 결정에 대한 정보주체의 권리 안내서(2024.9.)

· Current guidance·→
kr-pipc-guide-10375VoluntaryGuidance

인공지능(AI) 개발·서비스를 위한 공개된 개인정보 처리 안내서

· Current guidance·→
● Live

Recent AI law developments in South Korea

Updated September 15, 2026

Recent news coverage of AI regulation and policy in South Korea. Headlines are aggregated automatically; follow each link for the full story.

AI has arrived in South Africa’s boardrooms – but company law hasn’t caught upUS Mission Geneva · CC BY-ND 2.0 · via flickr
AI has arrived in South Africa’s boardrooms – but company law hasn’t caught up

Coverage from The Conversation on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

The Conversation·→
South Korea expands espionage law to crack down on AI chip tech theftorcmid · CC BY 2.0 · via flickr
South Korea expands espionage law to crack down on AI chip tech theft

Coverage from thenews.com.pk on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

thenews.com.pk·→
Democratizing the law: AI is the answerUS Mission Geneva · CC BY-ND 2.0 · via flickr
Democratizing the law: AI is the answer

Coverage from The Korea Times on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

The Korea Times·→
Law tops South Korea’s list of most AI-exposed professionsWorld Economic Forum · CC BY 3.0 · via wikimedia
Law tops South Korea’s list of most AI-exposed professions

Coverage from Phnom Penh Post on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

Phnom Penh Post·→
US to press G20 on light-touch AI regulationdanxoneil · CC BY 2.0 · via flickr
US to press G20 on light-touch AI regulation

Coverage from France 24 on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

France 24·→

High-risk industries to watch in South Korea

🏥 Healthcare
🏦 Finance
👔 HR & Hiring
🛡️ Insurance
⚖️ Legal
🎓 Education

US-based? Check your state laws too

If you're a US company serving South Korea customers, you need to comply with both your state's AI laws and South Korea regulation.

US AI laws hub →All 51 US jurisdictions →EU AI Act →Check my state →
Editorial standards

Anchored to the primary government source (statute, bill text, or agency rule) and verified directly against it · Last verified Jun 16, 2026. See our methodology.

Primary sources · South Korea
  • ↗trade.govhttps://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/south-korea-artificial-intelligence…
  • ↗fpf.orghttps://fpf.org/blog/south-koreas-new-ai-framework-act-a-balancing-act-betwee…
  • ↗cooley.comhttps://www.cooley.com/news/insight/2026/2026-01-27-south-koreas-ai-basic-act…