The Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet, in cooperation with the Institute for Digital Rights, has published an issue report titled <Research on AI policy and Issues in Key Areas in South Korea : Public Sector, Law Enforcement, Education and Social Welfare>.
Increasingly diverse AI systems are being rapidly implemented across various sectors of society. As a result, several issues are emerging, including AI systems’ instability, opacity, bias, and misuse for surveillance purposes.
In South Korea, civil society has raised various concerns surrounding AI systems. These include hate speech and privacy violations by the AI chatbot “Lee Ruda,” the Incheon Airport Immigration Control System Upgrade Project that provided facial recognition data to AI developers without data subjects’ consent, AI recruitment systems being implemented in public institutions without proper risk and performance assessments, and the Ministry of Education’s forceful pursuit of AI digital textbooks without adequate preparation.
However, additional research is needed on what types of AI systems are being introduced across Korean society and under what procedures and policies. This report serves this purpose. It analyzes the standards for AI regulation, implementation status, and actual or potential problems in key areas including public administration, law enforcement, education, and social welfare.
Additionally, this report summarizes the key contents of the AI Framework Act passed by the National Assembly on December 26, 2024, the civil society’s response process, and its shortcomings. Although the AI Framework Act is quite inadequate, the proposals made by civil society during its enactment process will serve as a foundation for future improvements to the act.
AI systems are being implemented across all sectors of society and will therefore impact the human rights and safety of all citizens. The Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet and the Institute for Digital Rights will continue to analyze the implementation status and problems of AI systems from the perspective of those “affected” by these technologies.
This issue report was produced with the support of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
