First public hearing on AI law held in National Assembly

Experts take part in a hearing on AI legislation at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Newsis

A public hearing on legislation on artificial intelligence took place at the National Assembly on Tuesday, marking the first significant discussion on AI-related laws since the 22nd National Assembly convened.

At a meeting of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, LG AI Research Institute's Director Bae Kyung-hoon, who appeared as an expert, suggested that a minimal set of standards for AI legislation should be established, with ongoing societal discussions to refine and amend the law as necessary.

Such an act would provide legal definitions of what constitutes AI as well as products and entities related to AI. It would also offer safety and development guidelines for the industry.

Although related discussions took place during the 21st National Assembly, the bill was discarded after it did not pass the floor by the time the 21st National Assembly ended.

The absence of standard guidelines for the AI industry has caused difficulties for companies as various government ministries pursue their own AI-related policies.

While there is broad agreement on the need for an AI law, the ruling People Power Party prioritizes industrial promotion. However, the opposition Democratic Party of Korea focuses more on safety regulations.

Among the 10 AI law proposals submitted to the 22nd National Assembly, the ruling party emphasizes AI industry development and technological support, while the opposition stresses establishing trustworthiness, ethical principles and management systems.

Civic groups are expressing concern that focusing too heavily on promoting the AI industry could lead to neglecting safety issues, such as the misuse of AI regarding deepfakes.

Yoo Seung-ik, deputy director at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, highlighted the importance of including effective and appropriate enforcement measures to ensure the success of an AI law.

Concerns have also been raised that delays in passing the AI-related law could harm South Korea's global competitiveness, as the country's regulatory environment is already seen as lagging behind those of competing nations.

In light of these concerns, many participants at the hearing recommended that an AI act should include only essential provisions, with more detailed regulations to be handled separately.

Choi Kyung-jin, a law professor at Gachon University, recommended that an AI law should establish only the most fundamental principles applicable across all sectors, with specific regulations tailored to the unique characteristics of each area.

Rep. Choi Min-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea, the chairperson of the Assembly's communications committee, urged to consolidate the various AI-related bills into a unified bill.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.