South Korea Ministries Expand Briefings to Help SMEs Navigate AI Basic Act
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Science and ICT are taking significant steps to support small and venture businesses in adapting to the recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Basic Act. These ministries are setting up venues to explain the necessary systems and support programs that come into effect following the enforcement of this act.
Policy Briefings for SMEs
On March 24, the ministries announced their plan to hold additional policy briefings aimed at bolstering the capacity of small and venture businesses to respond effectively to new laws and regulations. The briefings will also serve as a platform for gathering on-site feedback during the regulatory grace period.
Since January, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Ministry of Science and ICT have jointly hosted these briefings. The events have drawn significant interest, with over 300 attendees present in person and nearly 9,000 viewers tuning in on YouTube. At the last briefing, participants were guided through the key points of the AI Basic Act, which took effect on January 22, and were introduced to support programs beneficial to corporations.
Enhanced Communication and Accessibility
The upcoming briefings will be linked to various events organized by institutions and organizations. In a bid to improve public communication and policy accessibility, these sessions will be livestreamed on YouTube, allowing corporations that cannot attend in person to engage in real-time Q&A sessions.
Alongside comprehensive guidance on laws, systems, and support programs, a dedicated channel will be established for small and venture businesses to receive 1:1 consultations on legal and investment matters.
Commitment to Innovation
Park Yong-soon, the director general for small and medium enterprise policy at MSS, emphasized the importance of aligning the policy briefings with the on-site needs of businesses. He stated, “We plan to structure the policy briefings around the on-site needs so that small and venture businesses can continue their innovation activities by adding AI.” He further expressed the ministry’s commitment to fostering AI startups and promoting regional AI transitions.
Kim Kyung-man, the director general for AI policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, acknowledged the challenges startups face during the initial phase of the AI Basic Act enforcement. He assured that the ministries will actively listen to and incorporate the concerns of startups and other corporations to enhance the system and advance the AI industry.
Through these initiatives, the South Korean government aims to spur AI adoption among small and venture businesses, ensuring they remain competitive and innovative in an increasingly technology-driven landscape.
