The Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea has officially unveiled a set of national ethical principles governing the development and application of artificial intelligence. As the ministry emphasized, the document is purely advisory in nature: it is intended for the information of AI developers, technology providers, end users, government agencies, and civil society organizations, but it imposes no legal obligations on them. The initiative was adopted against the backdrop of the rapid spread of artificial intelligence technologies — from corporate operations to public services and the everyday lives of citizens — which, according to the ministry, calls for the formation of a common ethical framework for the industry.
Three Fundamental Values and Seven Principles
The architecture of the new document is built on three core values. The first is human dignity: people should be treated as ends in themselves, not as a means to achieve other goals. The second is the common good, which holds that AI should help strengthen public trust and benefit society as a whole, rather than serve purely individual interests. The third is the sustainable development of humanity, aimed at securing benefits not only for the present generation but also for future ones. Based on these values, seven specific principles have been formulated: human orientation, protection of privacy, fairness and inclusiveness, accountability, safety, reliability, and transparency.
Practical Requirements for Developers and Users
In accordance with the human-orientation principle, AI systems must support a person's capacity for judgment and decision-making, rather than replace it. Developers are advised to clearly define the role of AI in each specific process and to preserve the possibility of human intervention when necessary. The privacy principle requires that personal data be processed exclusively for specific purposes and in the necessary volume. The fairness and inclusiveness principle is aimed at ensuring equal treatment of all categories of users in the development and operation of AI systems. Accountability entails delineating the responsibilities of all stakeholders, while the safety and reliability principles focus on risk management and ensuring that the system's characteristics correspond to its intended use. Finally, the transparency principle obliges providers to give users information on how AI is applied, what the system's limitations are, and by what criteria decisions are made, especially in situations affecting a person's rights, obligations, or opportunities.
The Minister's Position and Academic Expertise
Minister of Science and Information Technology Pa Kyoung-hun stated that the success of artificial intelligence is determined not only by the development of cutting-edge technologies but also by the ability to integrate them safely and responsibly into industry and everyday life. At the same time, Choe Kyoung-jin (also referred to as Mr. Choi in the source text), director of the Center for AI, Data, and Policy at Gachon University, noted that the effectiveness of the initiative will depend on how exactly these principles are translated into specific regulatory acts and practical actions. In his words, ethical issues can vary significantly depending on the type of AI system, the service provided, and the area of application, so the private sector needs to develop more specific codes of conduct to address the problems arising in each individual case. "Adhering to ethical principles is useful, but there is no punishment for failing to do so," the expert summarized.
Implementation Plans and Industry Guidelines
The South Korean government intends to supplement the general principles with individual guidelines and self-assessment checklists tailored to each specific economic sector. This should enable companies and government bodies to apply ethical guidelines taking into account the specifics of their activities. Thus, the national document is positioned not as a single universal code of rules, but as a common foundation for building more detailed ethical standards and guidance in each industry.
