Effective January 2026 · Extraterritorial

South Korea's AI Act applies extraterritorially. If your AI affects Korean users, you're covered.

South Korea's Basic AI Act entered into force in January 2026 with extraterritorial reach — any AI system that affects Korean users is subject to its requirements, regardless of where the company is headquartered. With Samsung, Hyundai, LG, SK Group, and a $1.7 trillion economy, South Korea's AI law creates compliance obligations for every global company operating in the Korean market. AI Asset Assurance provides the independent evaluation, transparency documentation, and risk assessment the Act requires.

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REGULATION STATUS

LawBasic AI Act

StatusEffective Jan 2026

ScopeExtraterritorial

FocusHigh-impact AI systems

AI Asset Assurance coverageFull evaluation

What the Act requires

South Korea's AI Act requirements and AI Asset Assurance capabilities

The Basic AI Act introduces requirements for transparency, risk assessment, human oversight, and documentation — with particular focus on high-impact and large-scale AI systems.

Transparency obligations

Basic AI Act — Transparency

AI providers must disclose to users when they are interacting with AI, provide information about the AI system's capabilities and limitations, and ensure AI-generated content is identifiable.

AI Asset Assurance: Independent evaluation documents the AI system's actual capabilities, limitations, and demographic performance — providing the factual basis for transparency disclosures that go beyond marketing claims.

Risk assessment for high-impact systems

Basic AI Act — Risk Assessment

High-impact AI systems affecting fundamental rights, safety, or significant economic interests must undergo risk assessments including evaluation of potential biases, safety risks, and social impact.

AI Asset Assurance: Five independent validators conduct comprehensive risk assessment. Shapley attribution identifies bias drivers. Prescriptive remediation provides actionable fix recommendations. Certification serves as evidence of completed risk assessment.

Human oversight requirements

Basic AI Act — Oversight

High-impact AI must include mechanisms for human oversight, intervention, and the ability for affected persons to request human review of AI-driven decisions.

AI Asset Assurance: Evaluation assesses whether the AI system's architecture supports meaningful human oversight — not just a "human in the loop" checkbox, but whether the system provides sufficient information for a human to make an informed override decision.

Extraterritorial application

Basic AI Act — Scope

The Act applies to AI systems that affect Korean users regardless of where the provider is located. US companies selling AI-powered products to Korean consumers or businesses must comply.

AI Asset Assurance: Cross-jurisdictional evaluation covers both Korean AI Act and other applicable regulations (EU AI Act, US state laws) in a single engagement. Companies operating in multiple jurisdictions get comprehensive compliance documentation.

Who's affected

Global companies with Korean market exposure

Any company whose AI products or services reach Korean users — through direct sales, app stores, SaaS platforms, or embedded AI in exported products — is within scope. This includes US tech companies, financial services firms, healthcare companies, and manufacturers with Korean operations or customers.

Enterprise Evaluation

$60,000

Full evaluation for Korean AI Act compliance. Cross-jurisdictional analysis available for companies also subject to EU AI Act or US state laws.

Multi-Jurisdiction Bundle

$60,000+

Korea + EU AI Act + US state compliance in one engagement. One evaluation, multiple jurisdiction certifications.