Defining risk in AI legislation: perspectives and implications in the Korean context

ABSTRACT

This article examines the complex landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) legislation in South Korea, highlighting the tension between rapid technological advancement and societal protection. It traces South Korea’s historical emphasis on Information Technology (IT) as an economic growth engine and its recent efforts to navigate the global trend towards AI development and regulation. The article argues that the legislative challenges in Korea are intricately linked to the nation’s developmental approach to IT and AI, which often foregrounds economic competitiveness over addressing potential societal harms. This approach reflects a broader discourse that frames the promotion and regulation of emerging technologies as a binary choice between maintaining global competitiveness and mitigating technology’s unpredictable impacts. In conclusion, the article calls for a more cautious and deliberative approach to AI regulation, emphasising the importance of inclusive discussions that consider a broader range of AI-related risks.

KEYWORDS:

• Artificial Intelligence
• legislation
• regulation
• policy
• discourse

Acknowledgments

I wholeheartedly thank my colleagues at LISIS for their advice and discussions, which have contributed to broadening my perspective on various aspects of science and technology. I am also grateful to the editors of this Special Issue and to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments at various stages.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).