AI in Governance Requires Constitutional Safeguards, Says Korean Expert

COLOMBO (News 1st); As governments around the world increasingly explore the use of artificial intelligence to improve governance and combat corruption, a leading South Korean anti-corruption expert has cautioned that AI should remain a supporting tool rather than the final decision-maker, stressing the need for constitutional safeguards, transparency and human accountability.

The comments were made by Choi Yong-jeon, President of the Korean Anti-Corruption Law Association, in response to a question raised by News 1st journalist Zulfick Farzan during the 'Korea-UNDP International Anti-Corruption Forum in Seoul, on the growing role of AI in public administration and anti-corruption efforts.

Addressing concerns about where governments should draw the line when deploying AI in governance, particularly in areas that could affect fundamental rights and constitutional protections, Choi acknowledged that artificial intelligence is already being widely used in administrative decision-making processes and is likely to play an even greater role in the future.

He described the increasing use of AI as a positive development but emphasized that final decisions must continue to be made by human officials rather than machines.

"Up to now, it is still human beings who make the final decision. AI is being used only as a complementary or auxiliary infrastructure," Choi said.

He explained that legal accountability remains one of the most critical issues surrounding the use of AI in governance. According to Choi, governments must clearly define who bears responsibility for decisions made with the assistance of artificial intelligence, and such principles should be embedded within constitutional and legal frameworks.

"There is a legal principle regarding the attribution of legal responsibility. We must clearly identify who is accountable for a decision, and that should be reflected in the constitution or legal framework so that AI can truly serve the public interest," he said.

Choi also warned that artificial intelligence remains largely opaque, describing it as a "black box" whose internal processes are not always understood by the public or even policymakers.

"Up to now, AI is still a black box. We do not fully know how the process works. Because of that, the possibility of AI being responsible or accountable for decisions remains uncertain," he noted.

The anti-corruption expert further argued that citizens have a fundamental right to know when AI has been involved in government decision-making. He called for legal provisions requiring authorities to disclose the use of AI whenever it influences administrative decisions affecting the public.

According to Choi, such transparency should be recognised as part of broader constitutional protections and basic human rights, ensuring that citizens are informed when AI systems are used and are able to assess whether decisions comply with existing laws and regulations.

He said public notification and legal compliance assessments would help safeguard individual rights while minimizing the potential risks associated with the expanding use of AI in government institutions.

"As citizens, people have the right to know whether a decision was made with the help of AI and whether that decision complies with the law. Through transparency and proper legal oversight, we can reduce the negative effects and risks that may arise from the use of artificial intelligence," he said.

Choi's remarks come at a time when governments worldwide are increasingly turning to AI-driven systems to enhance efficiency, detect fraud, improve public services and strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms, while simultaneously facing growing debates over accountability, privacy, transparency and the protection of fundamental rights.