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Why South Korea's AI Basic Act looks unfinished on day one

By Choonsik Yoo ( January 21, 2026, 04:48 GMT | Comment) -- South Korea’s AI Basic Act goes into full force on Thursday after a rushed legislative process inspired partly by the EU AI Act, but it is already facing questions over its relevance, authority and credibility. Drafted in the wake of the ChatGPT shock, the law remains anchored in foundation-model assumptions even as the global artificial intelligence landscape shifts beyond them. Key enforcement decrees and guidelines were not released in advance, leaving companies with virtually no time to prepare. With penalties deferred, revisions already planned and regulators still building capacity, critics warn that the act risks becoming symbolic rather than providing clear, durable AI governance.South Korea’s AI Basic Act comes fully into force on Thursday, a year after parliament enacted it in a rushed process amid severe political deadlock, but it is meeting far more criticism than applause, as the global AI landscape has already moved beyond the assumptions that shaped the law (see here)....

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