KISDI Holds First Meeting of the Society and Trust Subcommittee of the AI Social Policy Forum (detail)

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KISDI Holds First Meeting of the Society and Trust Subcommittee of the AI Social Policy Forum

Domestic and International Policy Responses to AI Companion Services for Adolescents and Future Policy Directions Discussed

▲ Review of domestic policy responses to AI companion services for adolescents
▲ Examination of AI companion chatbot regulations in the United States, China, and the European Union and their implications for Korea
▲ General discussion with experts from academia, industry, the legal sector, and civil society organizations

Date and Time: September 21, 2026 (Monday), 16:00–18:00
Venue: HJ Business Center, Gwanghwamun, Seoul
Hosted by: Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)
Organized by: Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI)

The Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI, President Sangkyu Rhee), together with the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), held the first meeting of the Society and Trust Subcommittee of the AI Social Policy Forum on September 21 at the HJ Business Center in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

Participants included Professor Sang-Wook Lee of Hanyang University, Chair of the AI Social Policy Forum; Professor Jisook Woo of Seoul National University, Chair of the Society and Trust Subcommittee; and subcommittee members representing academia, industry, the legal sector, and civil society organizations.

The meeting examined domestic and international responses to potential risks associated with adolescents' use of AI companion services, which are designed primarily to establish emotional relationships with users. It also discussed possible policy responses. The meeting provided the first opportunity to share the findings of the forum's Youth Protection Working Group and gather opinions on the direction of policy recommendations.

Adolescents' use of AI is expanding beyond learning and information searches to include seeking advice and discussing personal concerns. According to the Korea Press Foundation's *2025 Survey on Media Use among Teenagers*, 34.4% of adolescents who had used conversational or generative AI in the preceding week cited communication, including seeking advice or discussing personal concerns, as a reason for use.

The meeting began with a presentation by Jae-Kyung Shin, a principal investigator at KISDI, titled "Operational Plan for the AI Social Policy Forum." The presentation outlined the forum's overall operational direction and the background to the discussions of the Society and Trust Subcommittee. It was followed by presentations on the main policy issues.

The second presentation, titled "Current Domestic Responses to AI Companion Services for Adolescents," was delivered by Hwihong Kim, Associate Fellow at KISDI and Secretary of the Youth Protection Working Group.

Kim first shared the working group's discussions and examined the evolving approach to protecting adolescents from potential harms associated with AI companion services. As concerns have expanded beyond harmful AI-generated content to include emotional dependence arising from interactions with AI, policy attention has shifted from restricting access to implementing safeguards in service design and operation. He also reviewed relevant government responses and legislative developments in Korea.

The next presentation, titled "Overseas AI Chatbot Regulations and Policy Implications," was delivered by Changho Lee, Senior Research Fellow at the National Youth Policy Institute.

The presentation examined regulatory approaches in the United States that require AI companion chatbot operators to implement safeguards, including disclosing that users are interacting with AI, responding to crisis situations involving self-harm or suicide, and preventing the encouragement of emotional dependence. These approaches were compared with regulatory responses in China and the European Union.

Lee suggested that Korea should establish a social safety net that directs adolescent users to counseling services or other appropriate support when signs of crisis are detected. Given that adolescents also use chatbots to discuss personal concerns, he emphasized the need for AI literacy education to raise awareness of the risks of excessive emotional dependence on chatbots.

A general discussion followed under the theme "Adolescent Protection and Service Providers' Safety Obligations in the Use of AI Companion Services." The discussion was moderated by Professor Jisook Woo of Seoul National University, Chair of the Society and Trust Subcommittee.

Participants discussed whether relationship-oriented AI services, including AI companion services, require a separate legal definition, the appropriate level of safeguards specifically designed for adolescents, and the effectiveness of guideline-based approaches. The discussion considered policy directions that balance adolescent protection with the stable operation of AI services.

Based on the opinions presented at the meeting, KISDI plans to continue reviewing policy issues related to safety measures and service provider responsibilities concerning AI services for adolescents. Through further subcommittee discussions and stakeholder consultations, KISDI will develop policy response measures to address these issues effectively.

KISDI News

KISDI Holds First Meeting of the Society and Trust Subcommittee of the AI Social Policy Forum