While the European Union (EU), which has long taken the lead in establishing AI regulations, has recently shown signs of easing its regulatory stance, South Korea is set to become the first country in the world to enforce AI legislation starting in January next year, revealing a divergence in regulatory approaches.
According to industry sources on the 14th, South Korea will implement the Framework Act on the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Trust-Based Foundation (AI Basic Act) on January 22 next year, making it the first country to practically apply AI-related laws.
Although the EU was the first to establish a legal framework for AI, it plans to apply a significant portion of its regulations on high-risk AI systems starting in August next year. As a result, South Korea, which will enforce its law in January, will precede the EU in terms of the timing of actual implementation.
Furthermore, after the European Commission announced a “Digital Simplification Package” containing regulatory easing measures last month, speculation has emerged that the application of EU AI regulations could be delayed until the end of 2027.
This shift is interpreted as the EU responding to demands from U.S. big tech companies, combined with internal European concerns that the region is falling behind in the global AI race.
Regarding the EU’s recent move to slow down after initially leading AI regulation efforts, the Korean government has taken a wait-and-see approach, stating that amendments to the EU Artificial Intelligence Act would require consensus among EU member states and face opposition from civic groups, making actual revisions uncertain.
Within the industry, criticism has arisen that South Korea’s push to hasten AI regulatory enforcement is unnecessary, especially as even the EU—once at the forefront of AI regulation—has shifted toward deregulation.
According to a recent survey conducted by Startup Alliance targeting 101 domestic AI startups, as many as 98% responded that they have effectively failed to establish practical response systems in preparation for the enforcement of the AI Basic Act.
A majority of the surveyed AI startups expressed concern over the implementation of the AI Basic Act, with 48.5% stating that they “do not understand the content well and are not prepared,” and another 48.5% saying that while they are “aware of the law, their response measures are insufficient.”
Posted by Freewhale98