Korea Eases AI Data Rules, Allows Camper Van Sharing Services
The Korean government will introduce special exemptions allowing artificial intelligence developers to use unprocessed video data without mosaic treatment for advancing autonomous driving technology and other AI applications.
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) announced Wednesday a plan to improve 22 anti-competitive regulations in 2025, which also includes permitting individuals to rent out their privately owned camper vans through sharing platforms.
The most notable change involves significant deregulation to foster the AI industry. Under current law, data collected without explicit consent from individuals can only be used after pseudonymization to prevent identification. However, for developing autonomous driving and robotics technologies, AI systems need to learn pedestrians' gaze directions and subtle facial expressions—tasks that have been severely limited when using mosaic-processed data.
The government will now allow original video and audio data to be used for AI training without pseudonymization, provided it is for AI technology development purposes. The special exemption will apply to lawfully collected personal information that meets certain requirements and receives approval through deliberation by the Personal Information Protection Commission.
"We expect this to improve AI recognition accuracy and reduce costs, thereby activating the domestic AI technology ecosystem and enhancing competitiveness," said Jang Joo-yeon, director of the Market Structure Improvement Policy Division at the FTC.
In response to changing leisure trends, camper van sharing services will also be brought into the regulatory framework. Previously, strict requirements for rental car registration—including ownership of at least 50 vehicles—made it impossible for individuals to rent out their personal camper vans for profit. Going forward, regulations will be amended to allow individuals to rent their camper vans through vehicle-sharing platforms. A pilot program is currently underway through the regulatory sandbox, with legislation expected to be completed by the first half of 2027.
The distribution structure for distilled spirits base—a key ingredient directly affecting cost competitiveness in the soju market—will also be reformed. Currently, the domestic distilled spirits base market operates under a monopolistic structure where Korea Distilled Spirits Sales exclusively purchases from nine manufacturers and sells to soju companies. Direct transactions between soju makers and distilled spirits base producers have been limited to 2 percent of total volume, or 30,000 drums annually. The FTC will roughly double this limit to 40,000-60,000 drums (approximately 3-4 percent) per year to encourage price and quality competition among distilled spirits base manufacturers and help soju companies reduce costs.
Additionally, public sewage treatment facility management contractors will be eligible for incentives when they reduce operating costs by adopting ICT-based smart technologies alone, without physical facility construction.
Mandatory labeling requirements that have cluttered food and health supplement packaging will also be significantly reduced. Only essential information such as expiration dates and allergy warnings will be displayed prominently, while detailed information can be provided via QR codes. This is expected to reduce packaging replacement costs for companies while allowing consumers to read key information in larger print.
"These regulatory improvements will reduce burdens on companies in emerging industries such as AI, and introduce competitive principles to closed markets like the liquor industry, thereby increasing consumer welfare," an FTC official said.