Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the National Artificial Intelligence Committee Enacted

The formation of the National Artificial Intelligence Committee (the “Committee”), a presidential initiative, is now underway. This Committee is poised to play a vital role in fostering the national AI industry and shaping regulatory policies.

As AI services rapidly expand across various sectors and related industries experience rapid growth, the Korean government launched the Supreme AI Strategy Council on April 4, 2024 to establish cohesive national AI policies and governance. This council represents the highest level of governance for public-private AI partnerships and includes private-sector experts in AI policy, industry, R&D, legal frameworks and ethical safety, alongside public officials who serve as department heads of key ministries.

To strengthen private-public collaboration governance, the government enacted the Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the National Artificial Intelligence Committee (the “Regulations”), effective as of August 6, 2024. These Regulations establish the Committee under the direct oversight of the President, elevating the existing Supreme AI Strategy Council to a presidential committee.

Key details of the Committee, as outlined in the Regulations are, summarized below.

Committee Composition

The Committee will comprise up to 45 members, including the President as the chairperson, one vice chairperson, and government officials, including the ministers of relevant authorities (e.g., Ministers of Science and ICT, Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Trade, Industry and Energy), the chairpersons of key commissions such as the Korea Communications Commission and the Personal Information Protection Commission, the Senior Secretary to the President for Science and Technology, and the Third Deputy Director of National Security. Private sector members, appointed by the President, will be experts in AI-related technology, economy, humanities, society, etc., serving a two-year term.

Committee Functions

Under the Regulations, the Committee will focus on deliberating and coordinating key policy matters to foster the AI industry and ensure service reliability. The specified policy areas include the following, but the Committee also has the discretion to address additional matters it deems necessary.

①	Major AI-related policies;

②	Establishing R&D strategies in the field of AI;

③	Establishing AI-related investment strategies;

④	Measures to expand AI-related infrastructure, such as data centers;

⑤	Identifying and improving regulations hindering the development and competitiveness of the AI industry;

⑥	Laying the foundation for trust by securing fairness, transparency, accountability and safety in AI;

⑦	Laws and systems to promote a sound AI society by disseminating AI ethics principles;

⑧	Direction-setting for the development of AI and addressing the resulting societal changes in education, labor, economy and culture, among others;

⑨	Private-public collaboration and industrial development to strengthen competitiveness in AI;

⑩	Training AI experts;

⑪	Promoting AI use in industrial and public sectors, such as manufacturing and service industries;

⑫	International cooperation related to AI, such as establishing international AI norms; and

⑬	Establishing economic security and technology protection strategies in AI.

3.	Sub-Committees, Special Committees and Advisory Group Within the Committee The Committee may establish sub-committees by field and special committees for specific issues as needed. In addition, it may establish and operate an advisory group of relevant experts to review AI-related matters.

Support Team

The Committee will have a support team to assist with its activities and operation. The chairperson of the Committee will appoint the head of this team from among public officials who have been dispatched to the Committee or who are holding concurrent offices at the Committee’s request. The appointed head will manage the support team’s affairs under the chairperson’s direction.

The respective advisory group and support team are expected to play vital roles in the Committee’s coordination and deliberation. However, the specific details of their composition are still under discussion and have yet to be made public.

With the entry into force of the Regulations, the Supreme AI Strategy Council has been elevated to a presidential committee and is expected to spearhead the government’s policy initiatives to support public-private partnerships and enhance national competitiveness in AI. As the proposed Framework Act on Artificial Intelligence, currently under legislative discussion, provides for the establishment of the National AI Committee, the Regulations will function as a subordinate statute once the Framework Act is enacted.

The Committee plans to coordinate and deliberate on a broad range of issues, including industry promotion, legal frameworks to ensure AI service reliability, and regulatory improvements. Such coordination and deliberations may be reflected in the proposed Framework Act on Artificial Intelligence and other related regulations and system improvements under discussion.

The specific composition and launch of the Committee are expected to be finalized around September. Given the Committee’s crucial role in fostering the national AI industry and shaping regulatory policies, it would be advisable to closely monitor and stay informed about its composition and operational plans.

[Korean Version]

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