South Korea opens public consultation on national AI ethics principles

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has launched a public consultation on a draft set of national artificial intelligence ethics principles, with submissions open from 29 May to 8 July 2026.

The draft framework, developed with the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), sets out three overarching values — human dignity, the common good of society, and the trustworthiness of technology — supported by six implementing principles: human autonomy, privacy, fairness and inclusiveness, sustainability, safety, and transparency.

The consultation is framed as a response to both rapid technological change and the recent enactment of Korea’s Basic Act on Artificial Intelligence. Officials say the principles are intended to provide a common reference point across government, resolving inconsistencies that have accumulated as ministries and agencies have developed sector-specific guidelines independently.

The document is positioned not as a replacement for existing laws or guidelines, but as an overarching national framework that can guide interpretation and fill gaps where specific rules do not yet exist. It acknowledges that the six principles may sometimes come into tension with one another, and that resolving such conflicts will depend on context rather than a fixed hierarchy of precedence.

The draft was prepared between December 2025 and April 2026 by a 17-member expert advisory group drawn from AI technology, law, education, and philosophy, working in two formations: a nine-person advisory council and an eight-person drafting working group. Industry views were also sought during the drafting process.

Among the more detailed provisions, the transparency principle goes beyond simple disclosure of AI use, requiring that individuals subject to consequential AI-assisted decisions — such as loan assessments or hiring evaluations — be entitled to an explanation of the reasoning involved and a mechanism to contest outcomes.

The autonomy principle explicitly addresses over-reliance, calling for systems that preserve users’ capacity for independent judgement rather than substituting for it.

Public submissions can be made via the AI Ethics Communication Channel at ai.kisdi.re.kr. The ministry intends to gather input from industry, civil society, academia, and relevant government departments before finalising the framework.