Users Also Responsible... Government Establishes Korea AI Ethics Principles

Comprises Three Core Values and Seven Key Principles

Applicable to Developers, Providers, and Users Alike

The government has announced a set of ethical principles, intended as a common standard for the sound use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the advancement of society.

The Ministry of Science and ICT, together with the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), stated on August 24 that the 'Korea AI Ethics Principles' were finalized after deliberation and resolution at the 12th Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology.

Background Hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, is attending the Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology held at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on July 23, 2026. Photo by Yongjun Jo

These ethical principles set out shared values and guidelines that must be upheld by all those involved in the development, provision, and use of AI, as well as by society as a whole, to ensure the healthy use of AI and the ongoing progression of society. The principles were established under Article 27 of the 'Basic Act on AI Development and Trust Infrastructure' (AI Basic Act).

The framework consists of three core values and seven fundamental principles. The three core values are: ▲ Human dignity ▲ Public good of society ▲ Sustainability of humanity. The seven key principles are: ▲ Human-centric approach ▲ Protection of privacy ▲ Fairness and inclusivity ▲ Responsibility ▲ Safety ▲ Reliability ▲ Transparency.

Among the seven principles, a human-centric approach requires that AI should be used to support human judgment, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities. Protection of privacy stipulates that personal information must be processed only to the necessary extent, and individuals’ rights over their own data must be respected. In terms of fairness and inclusivity, efforts are to be made to prevent unfair discrimination caused by AI biases and to ensure that everyone has equal access to the benefits and opportunities brought by AI.

The principle of responsibility mandates that all parties clearly fulfill their roles and responsibilities, and, in the event of an issue, accountability must be identified and remedies provided for any damages. Safety is addressed by calling for measures to prevent harm to life, body, mental health, and property, and to guard against misuse or external attacks. To ensure reliability, performance standards appropriate to the purpose and context of AI use must be set and periodically reviewed. The transparency principle specifies that necessary information, such as whether AI is being used, to what extent, and what its limitations are, must be communicated in an understandable manner.

This set of ethics principles includes guidelines that all stakeholders must observe to ensure the sustainability of society. Furthermore, not only AI providers but also users are seen as responsible actors in the use of AI, and the ethics and responsibilities of users are also emphasized. The principles further underline that nations and companies with significant AI capability and resources must exercise a level of responsibility that matches their influence.

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to implement follow-up measures, such as publishing a case-based explanatory guide and distributing a self-assessment checklist, to ensure the effective on-site adoption of the ethical principles.

Baek Kyunghoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, said, "Accelerating AI innovation and establishing a safe, trustworthy AI environment are not mutually exclusive tasks. The Korea AI Ethics Principles will serve as a practical benchmark to raise public trust in AI, promote positive development and use, and help ensure that the benefits of AI are widely shared."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.