Korea AI Basic Act enters into force

MSIT announces that the Act and Enforcement Decree take effect, with generative-AI labelling duties described under Decree Article 23 and a grace period of at least one year for most penalties.

Event typeeffective-date

Update to the Korea AI Basic Act vehicle, based on MSIT’s English release.

What took effect

Fact

MSIT states the AI Basic Act comes into effect on 22 January 2026 with the Enforcement Decree.

MSIT describes clear labelling requirements for generative AI outputs, including deepfakes, under the transparency provisions of the decree.

Grace period

Fact

MSIT states that a grace period of at least one year will defer fact-finding investigations and penalties except in exceptional serious-harm cases.

Limits

English MSIT description is the evidence base here. Attach Korean gazette text before litigating edge cases.

Policy questions

Content integrity

Should AI-generated content be labelled?

Governments require disclosure in different forms. Technical duties, responsible actors and enforcement models still diverge.

Frontier safety

Should frontier models face mandatory evaluations?

Evaluation language is widespread in policy texts. Thresholds, evaluators and legal consequences remain contested.

Policy asks

in-force

Require advance notice and clear labelling for generative and high-impact AI

Require AI business operators providing high-impact or generative AI to inform users in advance and clearly label generative outputs, including deepfakes.

Policy vehicles

regulation · In force

Korea AI Basic Act and Enforcement Decree

South Korea’s comprehensive AI statute combining industry promotion with transparency, safety and high-impact duties.

Evidence

Source basis

Direct sourceOpen evidence record

Korea’s AI Basic Act took effect on 22 January 2026

MSIT states the AI Basic Act and Enforcement Decree come into force on 22 January 2026.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) announced that the Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Trustworthy Foundation (“AI Basic Act”) comes into effect on January 22.

Ministry of Science and ICT (Korea) · MSIT press release · lead

Direct sourceOpen evidence record

Korea’s Enforcement Decree requires clear labelling of generative AI outputs

MSIT describes Enforcement Decree Article 23 duties to inform users and clearly label generative AI outputs, including deepfakes.

For outputs generated by generative AI, including AI-manipulated content (deepfakes) that may raise social concerns, the decree requires clear labeling in a manner that can be easily recognized by users, taking into account factors such as age.

Ministry of Science and ICT (Korea) · MSIT press release · Enforcement Decree key feature ⑥ Obligation to Ensure Transparency (Article 23)