Government Establishes Six Principles of AI Ethics for the Public Sector... Focusing on Public Interest, Transparency, and Safety

[Financial News]
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) announced on the 3rd that it has established the Six Principles of AI Ethics for the public sector. This initiative aims to foster administrative innovation through artificial intelligence (AI) technology while ensuring public trust in the use of AI.
As AI has rapidly advanced and become widely adopted, its influence has grown significantly. However, this expansion has also brought about side effects such as issues of bias.
Other countries are also addressing AI ethics. In Korea, various ministries, including the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the United States Department of Education (ED), are operating their own ethical guidelines tailored to their specific fields.
Internationally, examples include the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) in Japan, which has established principles for AI utilization, and the Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the UK Public Sector, both of which present ethical values for AI.
MOIS also recognized the need for differentiated ethical principles in the public sector, as the use of AI in this field has a direct impact on citizens’ daily lives.
The government developed the AI ethics principles through the operation of an expert working group and advisory meetings.
The Six Principles of AI Ethics established by MOIS aim to promote administrative innovation and build public trust. These principles—public interest, transparency, safety, fairness, accountability, and privacy protection—are considered from the perspectives of citizens, administration, and technology.
To facilitate practical implementation, more than 90 detailed checklist items have been provided for public sector employees to review in accordance with the six principles.
The AI ethics principles for the public sector are intended as guidelines, specifically targeting employees of central government agencies, local governments, public institutions, and local public corporations, rather than being applied to all members of society.
Moreover, these principles are not merely declarative values. They include a detailed checklist for self-assessment, and a system is in place to adjust and provide feedback based on the results.
MOIS plans to finalize the Six Principles of AI Ethics after gathering broad input from experts in academia and other fields, in addition to public sector employees from central government agencies and related organizations.
Furthermore, to ensure the checklist of over 90 items is effectively implemented in the field, MOIS will develop educational programs on the practical application of AI ethics principles to enhance their effectiveness.
Minister Yun Ho-jung stated, "In order to use rapidly advancing AI safely in the public sector while improving government efficiency and productivity, ethical principles are essential. With the transition to AI in the public sector, these principles will serve as behavioral standards to protect citizens’ fundamental rights and guard against various risks, including violations of individual rights."

ktitk@fnnews.com Kim Tae-kyung Reporter