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A recent Korea-China academic conference highlighted the urgent need for updated legal frameworks to address the challenges and opportunities presented by rapidly evolving digital technologies.
Bridging the Gap: International Collaboration on Digital Law
The 2nd Digital Law Symposium and the 1st Korea-China Digital Academic Conference, a collaborative effort between Shenzhen University and the Digital Law Research Society of the Shenzhen Law Society, served as a crucial platform for discussing the legal implications of emerging technologies. The event underscored the necessity for international cooperation in shaping digital law, bringing together leading experts from both countries to address pressing issues.
Key Discussions and Expert Insights
The conference featured presentations from prominent Korean legal scholars and practitioners, each focusing on a critical aspect of the digital landscape:
Data Protection in a Globalized World
Professor Chung Young-jin (Inha University AI Data Law) delved into the intricacies of the Korea Personal data Protection Act, analyzing concepts such as provision, entrustment, and storage. Drawing attention to cases involving TEMU and Deepseek,Professor Chung emphasized the growing importance of cross-border data transfer in the context of digital trade. In the age of data crossing the border, the transfer of personal information is a key issue of digital trade,
he stated, highlighting the need for robust international frameworks.
AI Governance: Balancing Innovation and Public values
Professor Lee Sang-woo (Inha University Data Law Center) explored the role of data law in the age of AI, emphasizing the tension between data governance, personal information protection, and the utilization of AI learning data.He advocated for legislative maintenance that ensures both the obligation and reliability of AI technology. The data method should be a core axis of balance between technology innovation and public values, and the legislative system of the AI era should consider flexibility and predictability,
Professor lee argued, calling for a balanced approach to AI regulation.
The Case for Virtual Asset Taxation
Professor Kim Young-soon (Inha University Law School) presented a compelling argument for virtual asset taxation from the perspective of tax equity. Virtual assets have a clear asset character, so it is indeed reasonable to be taxable,
she asserted, justifying the need for a clear and consistent tax framework for digital assets. This comes as governments worldwide grapple with regulating and taxing cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets, with some countries like El Salvador even adopting Bitcoin as legal tender.
autonomous Vehicles and Criminal Liability
Professor Song moon-ho analyzed the complex legal challenges posed by autonomous vehicles, particularly in the context of criminal law. He argued that the existing criminal law framework may not be adequate to address accidents caused by AI-driven systems, suggesting the need for a new approach to assigning responsibility. In the event of an accident led by the AI -based operation system, it is difficult to be responsible for the fruit responsibility of the existing criminal law, and it is necessary to have a perilous criminal approach to responding,
Professor Song stated.
The future of Virtual Asset Legislation in Korea
Former researcher Lee Woong-young provided insights into the Korean goverment’s approach to virtual asset legislation, emphasizing the pursuit of a balance between investor protection and industrial development. He noted that Korea is implementing regulations in stages, aiming to foster a lasting and responsible virtual asset market.
Addressing the Data Center Bottleneck
Lawyer Kim Sung-ho (Lo & A) addressed the challenges surrounding data center development in the metropolitan area, including power system saturation, environmental concerns, and resident acceptance. He highlighted the need for improvements in related laws and systems to support the growth of AI and cloud infrastructure. The data center,which is the core foundation of AI and cloud infrastructure,is realistically faced with regulatory bottles,
Kim stated,emphasizing the urgency of addressing these regulatory hurdles.
The Path Forward: Collaboration and Agile Legislation
The conference participants recognized the limitations of current legislative systems in keeping pace with rapid technological advancements. They emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration between countries to address digital issues and develop effective legal frameworks. As Professor Chung Young-jin noted, the law should now be a tool for designing the direction of technology development and social value standards.
Looking ahead, experts from both countries expressed their commitment to regularizing digital legislative research cooperation and promoting follow-up programs such as joint research, publication of journals, and curriculum development. They also agreed on the need for a legal system that can respond agilely to the rapidly changing digital habitat, emphasizing the establishment of a sustainable cooperation base.
