The Basic Act on Intelligent Information Technology was enacted to accelerate the establishment of an AI ecosystem.
Corporate responsibility for personal information leaks has been strengthened.
The "Nth Method" passed, abolishing the superior status of public certificates.


The 20th National Assembly held its final plenary session on the 20th and passed a large number of pending bills.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which has rapidly changed the global political landscape and lifestyles, along with the Nth Room incident and other factors, the debate in the ICT sector has become more heated than ever. We looked into the bills that have been passed.


◇ Allowing AI experts and outstanding teachers to hold concurrent positions

An amendment to comprehensively revise the current "Basic Act on National Information Technology" into the "Basic Act on Intelligent Information Technology" has been passed. The main goal of this amendment is to establish an AI ecosystem under legal and institutional support.

The amendment, which includes the establishment of a comprehensive plan for an intelligent information society, stipulates data policies such as activating data distribution and fostering specialized companies, as well as measures to advance intelligent information technology, such as training specialized personnel and promoting standardization.

In particular, it contains special provisions allowing university professors and researchers to take a leave of absence or hold concurrent positions, so as to attract private sector experts in the field of intelligent information technology, such as AI, as professors. This provides a legal basis for resolving the shortage of AI experts and excellent teachers that has been continuously raised in academia and industry.

Additionally, it contains measures to prevent adverse effects resulting from the use and spread of new technologies and respond to social changes, such as establishing national AI ethics guidelines, establishing a basis for protective measures to ensure technological safety, and establishing measures for jobs, education, and welfare.


Strengthening corporate responsibility for personal information leaks

The 'Partial Amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc.' was also passed. This revision is expected to secure the safety and reliability of information and communications networks, provide a safe convergence service environment for citizens and businesses, and thereby strengthen the competitiveness of convergence industries.

The amendment △established a legal basis for responding to cyber-intrusion incidents targeting information and communications networks using so-called "backdoors," △expanded the scope of application of the law to prevent security incidents and minimize damage to ICT convergence devices, products, and services, and recommended compliance with minimum security standards.

In addition, we have established a basis for requesting the reflection of information protection guidelines in the standards of individual laws for each industry, established a system for analyzing the causes of convergent security accidents, and introduced a security certification system for IoT products, etc., thereby encouraging companies to voluntarily improve their security levels and guaranteeing users' right to choose.


◇Abolish the dominant position of public certificates and promote the development of diverse electronic signatures.

The 'Complete Amendment to the Electronic Signature Act', which abolishes the superior legal effect of public electronic signatures, also known as public certificates, was also passed.

The main contents of the amendment to the Electronic Signature Act are: △ promoting competition among various electronic signature methods by abolishing the superior legal effect of certified electronic signatures; △ introducing an evaluation and recognition system for electronic signature certification work; and △ strengthening protection measures for electronic signature users.

The industry expects that this revision will promote market competition in electronic signatures, spur the development and use of various electronic signatures based on new technologies such as blockchain and biometric authentication, and increase the convenience of electronic signature use for the public.


◇Introducing regulatory exceptions for new technology verification within research and development special zones.

The 'Special Act on the Promotion of Research and Development Special Zones', which includes provisions allowing regulatory exceptions for the verification of new technologies within research and development special zones,;This was decided.

A legal basis has been established for individual researchers within research and development special zones to receive special exemptions for demonstration in all fields when they encounter regulatory difficulties in demonstrating new technologies during the research and development process.

The demonstration exception is a regulatory sandbox system that allows temporary demonstration through regulatory relaxation even if there is no basis for approval under current laws.

The target is the five existing special zones (Daedeok, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, and Jeonbuk) and the six small and medium-sized special zones designated last year (Gimhae, Ansan, Jinju, Changwon, Cheongju, and Pohang).

In addition, the 'Complete Amendment to the Act on the Creation of a Safe Laboratory Environment' also passed the plenary session of the National Assembly.


◇ Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act passes amid controversy.

The amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act, which includes the "Nth Room Prevention Act," which imposes on Internet companies the obligation to manage and supervise digital sex crimes, also passed the plenary session of the National Assembly.

The industry expressed regret, saying that the prevention law does not apply to Telegram, the origin of the incident, and that there are concerns that it could infringe on users' fundamental rights such as communication secrecy, privacy, and freedom of expression.

The amendment also includes a provision to abolish the requirement for mobile carriers to obtain government approval when introducing new rate plans and replace it with a reporting system.

Regarding concerns about a rate increase due to the transition to a reporting system, the Ministry of Science and ICT explained, “It is a reserved reporting system that will be reviewed for 15 days and rejected if there is a concern about a rate increase.”

The amendment to the Framework Act on Broadcasting and Communications Development that would designate private data centers as national disaster management facilities was put on hold by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee due to concerns that it could lead to duplicative regulations.