On January 23, 2024, a field meeting was held at Hyundai Motorstudio, bringing together the government and autonomous driving technology companies to discuss ways to enhance industry competitiveness while ensuring robust privacy protection. This event followed up on the first Core Regulatory Rationalization Strategy Meeting held on September 15, 2023, aiming to improve regulations in the autonomous vehicle and robotics sectors. Chairperson Song Kyung-hee of the Personal Information Protection Commission attended in person, engaging with industry leaders and experiencing future mobility technologies. The meeting marked a significant step in addressing privacy concerns and fostering innovation through close government-industry collaboration.
Six leading companies—Hyundai Motor, Neubility, Woowa Brothers, Kakao Mobility, Autonomous A2Z, and RideFlux—participated in the event. The Commission explained safety standards for video data utilization to enhance AI performance and announced specific improvement measures, including rationalizing regulatory sandbox safety standards, revising laws for AI transition, and publishing technical guidelines. Companies requested an environment that allows safe and efficient use of original video data, emphasizing the need for swift regulatory improvements amid intensifying global competition.
Chairperson Song stressed that privacy protection is the foundation of customer trust and a core value across all industries. The Commission pledged to support companies through regulatory sandboxes, pre-approval reviews, and non-action letters, enabling them to focus on creative R&D without regulatory uncertainty. While companies welcomed the policy direction, they also called for faster reforms and more active support. The balance between leveraging vast data and protecting personal information was reaffirmed as crucial for industry advancement.
Looking ahead, the government and industry are expected to continue efforts to harmonize privacy protection with innovation. Regulatory rationalization and improved safety standards are anticipated to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea’s autonomous driving and robotics industries. Policies reflecting on-site feedback will contribute to building a trusted AI ecosystem. Future legislative revisions and the publication of technical guidelines will be closely watched as key follow-up measures.
This meeting represents a pivotal policy shift toward achieving both privacy protection and innovation in the autonomous AI industry. Flexible regulatory frameworks, such as sandboxes and legal revisions, will be crucial for Korean companies to secure a competitive edge globally. Balancing data utilization with privacy safeguards is expected to foster a trustworthy AI ecosystem, supporting sustainable industry growth and public confidence.