🔴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

Recent AI law developments in South Korea

Updated August 1, 2026

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

Global AI rules shift from strategy to enforcementUS Embassy New Zealand · CC PDM 1.0 · via flickr
Global AI rules shift from strategy to enforcement

Coverage from cyprus-mail.com on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

cyprus-mail.com·→
Omdia: regulators need to shift AI focus from policy to enforcementUS Embassy New Zealand · CC PDM 1.0 · via flickr
Omdia: regulators need to shift AI focus from policy to enforcement

Coverage from Mobile Europe on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

Mobile Europe·→
Explainable Knowledge - Based AI Could Unlock the Next Era of Autonomous Driving by Transforming Compliance , Transparency and Global Regulatory ApprovalNASA Goddard Photo and Video · CC BY 2.0 · via nasa
Explainable Knowledge - Based AI Could Unlock the Next Era of Autonomous Driving by Transforming Compliance , Transparency and Global Regulatory Approval

Coverage from ai-online.com on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

ai-online.com·→
South Korea to Boost Game AI Budget by 1.5x, Introduce Promotion Bill This Year to Accelerate AI TransformationUS Mission Geneva · CC BY-ND 2.0 · via flickr
South Korea to Boost Game AI Budget by 1.5x, Introduce Promotion Bill This Year to Accelerate AI Transformation

Coverage from finance.biggo.com on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

finance.biggo.com·→
South Korea trials ‘AI legal secretary’ to help public officials navigate the lawWorld Economic Forum · CC BY 3.0 · via wikimedia
South Korea trials ‘AI legal secretary’ to help public officials navigate the law

Coverage from Malay Mail on AI legislation and regulation relevant to South Korea.

Malay Mail·→

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…