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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, October 26, 2025 — The South Korean government has initiated a preliminary review to suspend a state-funded artificial intelligence (AI) surveillance project, following an exclusive report by The Kyunghyang Shinmun that uncovered serious human rights concerns and possible research misconduct.
According to the newspaper’s report, the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) recently requested that the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) submit materials for a “special evaluation” concerning the Intelligent Manned–Unmanned Integrated Security Technology Development Project. The ₩24 billion (US$17 million) initiative was jointly overseen by the Presidential Security Service (PSS) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).
Under South Korea’s National R&D Innovation Act, a special evaluation enables the government to alter or terminate national research projects based on ethical, procedural, or operational issues. The move comes after project funding was temporarily suspended on October 23, suggesting the government may be preparing for a full shutdown.
Launched in April 2024, the project aimed to develop AI systems capable of analyzing biometric signals to assess tension levels in crowds and identify potentially dangerous individuals. Civil rights organizations, including MINBYUN – Lawyers for a Democratic Society, criticized the program as a “Korean-style Big Brother,” warning that it could enable state surveillance and civil rights violations.
The Kyunghyang Shinmun further revealed that one of the project’s private consortium partners, HDS, allegedly received unauthorized technical assistance from another company whose CEO simultaneously served as a confidential evaluator for the NRF, a violation of conflict-of-interest and ethics regulations.
An NRF official told the newspaper that the agency expects to receive a full explanation from ETRI by October 27, after which it will convene a special evaluation committee. “The review will examine both the alleged misconduct and potential ethical implications of the project,” the official said.
The issue was also raised during a National Assembly audit on October 24, where opposition lawmakers denounced the project. Rep. Lee Hoon-ki described it as “a Korean version of Big Brother,” while Rep. Lee Hae-min of the Rebuilding Korea Party warned, “If technology created to protect the president causes citizens to live in fear, it becomes a tool of control, not protection.”
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
