Kakao steps up AI ethics governance, launches external advisory panel

Kakao said on Wednesday it has launched an external expert advisory panel under its AI&Technology Ethics Subcommittee to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) ethics governance.

The launch is a step to pre-empt potential social risks from the spread of agentic AI that sets its own goals and operates accordingly. It also aims to establish an internal policy framework that matches fast-changing domestic and international environments, including the enforcement of Korea’s AI basic law and international AI safety regulation.

The advisory panel consists of seven external experts tasked with verifying key areas including AI safety and ethics, law, children’s rights and international policy.

Its members include Myoungjoo Kim (김명주), head of the AI Safety Research Institute; Minseok Lee (이민석), a professor at Kookmin University’s College of Software Convergence; Sangwook Lee (이상욱), a professor in Hanyang University’s philosophy department; Wonta Lee (이원태), a specially appointed professor at Kookmin University; Soonyong Byun (변순용), a professor in Seoul National University of Education’s ethics education department; Jaeyeon Yoo (유재연), an adjunct professor of Hanyang University’s Social Innovation Convergence major; and Byungsoo Jung (정병수), head of UNICEF’s L&D Center, spanning academia, the legal field and an international organisation.

Kakao has led AI ethics frameworks by publishing an “Algorithm Ethics Charter” in 2018, the first among domestic companies, and establishing a group-wide “Technology Ethics Committee” in 2022. More recently, it set up “Guidelines for Responsible AI for the Kakao Group” by adding a principle of user agency. The company plans to directly incorporate the external advisory panel’s independent views into its ethics framework.

The panel held a kick-off meeting in June and its first regular meeting on Tuesday. Kakao plans to continue holding regular advisory meetings through the end of this year to set the direction of its AI ethics standards, reflect the results in its internal technology policies and transparently disclose related activities externally.

Seungwoong Kim (김세웅), chair of Kakao’s AI&Technology Ethics Subcommittee, said, “The launch of this external advisory panel aims to expand our AI ethics governance by a step and to further solidify our ethical standards and principles.” He added, “We will reflect the panel’s independent perspective in practical policies and take the lead in building a responsible AI ecosystem.”