한국정보산업연합회 FKII

Dear Colleagues,

The global race to regulate artificial intelligence has a new frontrunner: South Korea. On January 22, 2026, the country introduced its AI Basic Act, claiming the title of the world's first comprehensive body of laws to regulate the technology. This legislation, which precedes the full application of the EU's AI Act, establishes regulations for "high-impact" AI, including mandatory human oversight, risk assessments, and labeling for deepfakes. While the government aims to establish a "foundation for trust," the rapid rollout has sparked a critical debate: Is being "first" a competitive advantage or a regulatory trap that risks stifling the very innovation it seeks to protect?

Join us for an in-depth session with Charles Mok, Research Scholar at Stanford University’s Global Digital Policy Incubator, as we decode the complexities of South Korea’s new legal framework and its broader implications for the global tech landscape.

Why This Matters for Tech Leaders

The South Korean AI Basic Act introduces stringent requirements that could serve as a blueprint—or a cautionary tale—for other nations. From mandatory human oversight for "high-impact AI" to strict transparency requirements for deepfakes and generative content, the compliance burden is significant.

In this webinar, we will explore

• The Regional Landscape: A deep dive into emerging AI regulations across East Asia, including Taiwan’s focus on undersea cable resilience and data hubs, and Japan’s "Pragmatic Model" for AI governance that balances oversight with resource efficiency.
• Emerging Hubs: Insights into India's digital revolution and Singapore's approach to AI safety and inclusivity as part of the Seoul Declaration.
• The Startup Struggle: Why 98% of local AI startups feel unprepared for the new South Korean law and how "legislative populism" can lead to unintended consequences for SMEs.
• Innovation vs. Sovereignty: How protectionist instincts and "sender-pays" precedents may influence the future of global digital trade and network reliability.
• Interoperability & Policy: Balancing safety with economic growth while maintaining global tech neutrality and interoperability—key pillars of the WITSA AI Action Framework.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 9:00 PM EDT (Friday, March 20 in Europe, Africa, and Asia: See the time-zone conversions here)
• Register Here: Registration Link

Featured Speaker

Charles Mok Research Scholar, Global Digital Policy Incubator, Stanford University

Charles Mok is a Research Scholar at the Global Digital Policy Incubator of the Cyber Policy Center at Stanford University. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Internet Society and the International Centre for Trade Transparency and Monitoring.

A former elected member of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong (2012–2020) representing the Information Technology constituency, Charles has a deep background in both policy and entrepreneurship. He co-founded HKNet in 1994, one of Hong Kong’s earliest ISPs, and later founded Tech for Good Asia. Charles holds both a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.

Click Here to Register Now

Best regards,

Anders

Anders Halvorsen

Vice President, Global Public Policy