Naver's Ha Jung-woo: "AI Leads to Security... Basic Law Needed"… Government Supports Legislation and Operates Safety Research Institute

Ha Center Director "Need to Establish Basic Law... Step by Step from the Basics"
Ministry of Science and ICT Supports Legislation and Plans to Operate AI Safety Research Institute Within the Year
National AI Committee to Hold First Meeting as Early as Late August

Ha Jung-woo, Head of Naver Cloud AI Innovation Center, is giving a presentation at the seminar "Directions and Prospects for Enacting the AI Basic Act" held on the 31st.
[Photo by Team Cookie]

Ha Jung-woo, head of the Naver Cloud AI Innovation Center, called for the establishment of a basic law on artificial intelligence (AI). He also suggested that if it is difficult to enact the law immediately due to AI's implications for national security, a separate bill for AI promotion should be quickly enacted.

On the 31st, the International Association for Artificial Intelligence Ethics (IAAE), Team Cookie, the office of Song Seok-jun of the People Power Party, and the office of Kwon Chil-seung of the Democratic Party of Korea held a seminar at the National Assembly Members' Office Building titled "Directions and Prospects for Enacting the Basic AI Law."

At the seminar, Director Ha stated, "Currently, AI should be viewed from the perspective of national security," adding, "Previously, it was competition between companies, and from the end of last year to this year, it has become a contest between nations, but the situation is becoming more serious."

He continued, "In France, an outstanding company called Mistral AI has emerged, and France's influence is continuously increasing worldwide," and "The influence of the Mistral model is growing in Africa, and France is striving to create its own AI domain."

Director Ha emphasized the importance of Sovereign AI. Sovereign AI is a compound of 'Sovereign,' meaning autonomy, and AI, referring to artificial intelligence, signifying 'AI with sovereignty' or 'AI sovereignty.' He explained, "The standard of American AI reflects American values, but countries in the Middle East, ASEAN, and Africa worry that future generations adapting to American AI values might lose their own regional identity," adding, "This concept is called Sovereign AI, which goes beyond protecting a country's AI sovereignty to preserving national identity and diversity."

Director Ha urged the enactment of the "AI Industry Promotion and Trust-based Foundation Establishment Act" to foster AI growth. However, he explained that rather than rushing, it is necessary to prepare carefully from the basics, considering technological changes and the environment. He said, "It is important to create a good basic AI law, but it seems it will take a long time," and added, "If so, it is also necessary to quickly proceed with the AI Industry Promotion Act and AI Literacy Expansion Act on separate tracks."

At the seminar, the government also announced plans to support legislation for the basic AI law and to establish an AI Safety Research Institute. Nam Cheol-gi, Director of AI Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "The most important consideration in creating the basic law is the AI Safety Research Institute," adding, "It will not be a regulatory agency but will play a role in technically supporting safety, and it is planned to be established within ICT-related agencies by the end of this year and to begin full operation from November to December."

Director Nam also stated, "The National AI Committee will be chaired by the President and composed of about 30 private members and 10 government members," adding, "A secretariat will be created within the committee to involve and support various ministries and the private sector. The first meeting is planned to be held as early as the end of August or by early September at the latest, where the AI policy direction will be announced."