South Korea’s AI Basic Act enters into force: world’s second comprehensive AI law covers high-impact systems including criminal investigation tools

South Korea’s Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust took effect on 22 January 2026, making it the second comprehensive national AI law after the EU AI Act. High-impact AI systems, which explicitly include criminal investigation tools, are subject to risk assessments, user notification, documentation, and human oversight obligations. Enforcement details are being finalised through decrees from the Ministry of Science and ICT, with a reported grace period of at least one year. The law applies extraterritorially to foreign AI operators affecting Korean users or markets.

In this domain: EU AI Act implementation status April 2026: Digital Omnibus trilogue underway · Agentic AI governance gap identified as core EU AI Act compliance challenge · AI Omnibus trilogue: political agreement targeted for 28 April, high-risk AI compliance shifted to December 2027