[THE VIEW]Korea's National Competitiveness Without an AI Basic Act

All Countries Bet on AI Hegemony
Establishing Fundamental Frameworks for Related Industries
Ruling and Opposition Parties Must Accelerate Regulation and Legislation

Recently, there has been a law that both ruling and opposition parties agree on. It is the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Basic Act. The National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee laid the groundwork last month through a public hearing for the official discussion of the AI Basic Act in the 22nd National Assembly. As the necessity and timeliness of the legislation have gained broad support in the National Assembly, it is expected that discussions will accelerate.

We live in an era where the future of a nation changes depending on who dominates the AI industry. For Korean companies and talents to challenge this hegemony competition, it is urgent to enact an AI Basic Act that encompasses both promotion and regulation. Currently, Korea has no related laws, and the direction on how to operate businesses and develop technology within a certain framework is ambiguous.

This legal vacuum can hinder innovation and poses a significant risk of falling behind in global competition. While discussions on safety are important, establishing a system for revival and development is also urgent. These two aspects are not mutually exclusive but rather should be discussed concurrently to secure the reliability of technology while continuously maintaining the momentum for development. Research institutes and support measures encouraging AI development at the national level must also be established quickly.

Foreign countries have already placed their national fate on AI. In Singapore, under the judgment that future development depends solely on talent and technology, a government-affiliated institution supporting state-led AI projects and research has already been established. The government evaluates the potential of AI-related projects long-term and spares no human or financial support. Not only technology development but also in-depth projects on AI safety and effectiveness are supported over the long term. Through various projects and industry-academia cooperation, Singapore aims to bring the hegemony of AI research and technology development to itself.

This is in stark contrast to the recent cuts in the Korean government's research and development (R&D) budget. Europe also swiftly passed the AI Basic Act this year. Although the specific scope of regulation and autonomy remains unclear, it has presented a comprehensive framework for businesses and industries to utilize AI, and regulations are expected to be refined gradually. In neighboring Japan, investigations into the industrial status of AI use and generative AI have already begun. Based on these investigations, regulations and policies are expected to be concretized soon.

All bills require thorough review and in-depth discussion. However, in the case of AI, considering the speed of development, the AI Basic Act must first quickly establish the basic framework for the related industry. This is because AI is on a different trajectory with a faster pace of development than existing technologies. It is also important to keep in mind that all countries view AI as a future growth engine and are competing fiercely. Within a comprehensive framework, specific regulations and bills should be gradually refined in line with industrial development.

If the enactment of the AI Basic Act is delayed amid ongoing national audits and partisan conflicts, it will soon lead to a decline in national competitiveness. As major countries around the world prioritize AI development as their top national strategy and global hegemony competition around AI intensifies, Korea must also swiftly establish more active support and legal systems to avoid falling behind in this trend.

Kyung Na Kyung, Professor, Department of Computer Science, National University of Singapore