Legally Collected Data Can Be Used for AI Training Without Mosaic Processing
"2025 Plan to Improve Anti-Competitive Regulations"
Going forward, individuals-not just businesses-will be able to rent out their own camper vans to others through vehicle-sharing platforms. The issuance of new licenses for general liquor wholesalers, who supply alcoholic beverages to restaurants and bars, will also be increased. In addition, legally collected original personal data will be allowed to be used for AI (artificial intelligence) technology development and training without the need for mosaic or pseudonymization processing.
On December 8, the Korea Fair Trade Commission announced its "2025 Plan to Improve Anti-Competitive Regulations." The Commission selected 22 institutional barriers that have hindered market entry for new businesses or stifled innovation, and prepared improvement measures, revealing the main tasks to be addressed.
In consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Fair Trade Commission decided to allow individuals to rent out their camper vans through vehicle-sharing intermediary platforms. Until now, only car rental businesses with more than 50 vehicles could rent out camper vans, which meant that vehicles owned by individuals were left unused in urban areas. To promote the sharing economy and rationalize usage costs, the Commission plans to amend relevant laws and aims to implement the changes in the first half of 2027, based on the results of ongoing regulatory sandbox experiments.
Regulations on liquor distribution will also be revised. In cooperation with the National Tax Service, the Commission will expand the issuance of new licenses for general liquor wholesalers. This measure comes in response to criticism that market entry has been virtually blocked-only one new license has been issued in the past three years-weakening competition. The plan is to adjust the formula for the permissible number of licenses (T/O) to increase the entry of new businesses and ease the entrenched distribution structure.
In addition, the permitted volume of direct transactions between soju manufacturers and ethanol producers will be doubled from the current 30,000 drums per year (about 2% of total ethanol sales). Since most ethanol is traded through the Korea Ethanol Sales Agency, which handles the products of nine ethanol producers, there has been insufficient competition among manufacturers. By increasing direct transactions, the Commission aims to stimulate competition and diversify prices among producers.
Regulations on the AI industry will also be improved. A special provision will be introduced to allow the use of legally collected original personal data for AI training, subject to review and approval by the Personal Information Protection Commission and enhanced safety measures. The Fair Trade Commission expects this to reduce inefficiencies in technology development caused by mosaic and pseudonymization processing, and to improve the accuracy of precision recognition technologies such as autonomous driving. Currently, data for which the data subject's consent has not been obtained can only be used for AI training if mosaic or pseudonymization processing has been completed.
Additionally, public sewage treatment facility management contractors who reduce operating costs by utilizing ICT-based smart technologies will be provided with financial incentives. At present, incentives are limited to physical facility improvements, so even if operating costs are reduced through ICT smart technology, real-time monitoring, or remote management, no incentives are given unless there are physical facility improvements. The scope of QR code labeling information for food, health, and functional foods will also be expanded to reflect the trend toward smaller packaging. As the amount of information to be displayed increases but packaging becomes simpler, it is difficult to include all labeling information on the packaging, and this reality has been taken into consideration.
Efforts will also be made to rationalize the country-of-origin labeling standards for bakeries. Currently, bakeries are required to indicate the country of origin for the three main ingredients in all products sold. However, bakeries handle a wide variety of products, frequently launch new items, and often change ingredient ratios, making regulatory compliance difficult. Accordingly, a research study will be conducted to develop improvement measures so that the country-of-origin labeling standards for bakeries can be set more reasonably. In the construction sector, each local government will be clearly instructed-through official documents and staff training-that subcontracting contracts can be signed with contractors who have agreements to use new technologies in public works involving new technology applications.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
