South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT on Tuesday launched a research group on improving the AI Framework Act and held its kick-off meeting.

The AI Framework Act took effect on Jan. 22 after passing the National Assembly in December last year through a bipartisan agreement following more than four years of discussions. It is the world's second basic law on AI after the European Union's AI Act. The ministry is applying a regulatory grace period of at least 1 year to minimise confusion for companies in the early stage of implementation.

The group includes more than 40 experts recommended by AI-related academic organisations, industry associations, civic groups and the National AI Strategy Committee. It will operate in 3 subcommittees: academia and legal system, industry and civil society. It will coordinate and integrate the results of subcommittee discussions at plenary meetings.

It plans to identify institutional improvement tasks in the first half and flesh them out in the second half to draw up measures to improve the AI Framework Act.

Kim Kyung-man (김경만), director general for AI policy at the ministry, said, "We will listen carefully to a range of voices through the research group on improving the AI Framework Act and do our best so that the AI Framework Act can become an institutional cornerstone for strengthening the nation's AI competitiveness."