Who does it apply to?

Domestic and foreign AI developers and businesses using AI in products; foreign firms above revenue or user thresholds must appoint a Korean representative

What evidence is expected?

User notices and labels on generative outputs, domestic representative if thresholds met.

Deadline tracker · South Korea

AI Basic Act in force

Q: When does "AI Basic Act in force" apply?

22 January 2026 (In force). Generative AI providers must notify users that AI is used and label AI-generated content, with clear notice where generated audio, image or video is hard to tell from real. One-year grace period before administrative fines, except serious cases.

Generative AI providers must notify users that AI is used and label AI-generated content, with clear notice where generated audio, image or video is hard to tell from real. One-year grace period before administrative fines, except serious cases.

Date: 22 January 2026 (243 days ago)
Status: In force
Law: AI Basic Act
Jurisdiction: South Korea
Applies to: Domestic and foreign AI developers and businesses using AI in products; foreign firms above revenue or user thresholds must appoint a Korean representative
Evidence expected: User notices and labels on generative outputs, domestic representative if thresholds met.
Source: Cooley, Korea AI Basic Act overview
Last reviewed: 2026-09-21

What to do

Check whether it applies to you with the readiness scan.
Record the obligation against each affected system in your AI inventory.
The Compliance Kit holds the document that produces the evidence for this row.

Related obligations

High-impact AI obligations activated 2026-07-21
End of the one-year grace period for fines (expected) 2027-01-22

Cite this

Dutybound, "AI Basic Act in force", AI regulation deadline tracker, reviewed 2026-09-21, https://getdutybound.com/deadlines/kr-act/. Primary source: https://www.cooley.com/news/insight/2026/2026-01-27-south-koreas-ai-basic-act-overview-and-key-takeaways.