South Korea has temporarily restricted access to Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek for government ministries and agencies due to security concerns. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy confirmed that it had blocked employee access to DeepSeek, aligning with the government’s broader directive urging caution when using generative AI services, including ChatGPT.
Growing AI Security Concerns in South Korea
On Tuesday, the South Korean government issued a nationwide advisory instructing ministries and public agencies to evaluate the security risks of using AI-powered services. Following this:
- Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power confirmed it had already blocked access to AI services like DeepSeek earlier this month.
- The Defence Ministry also restricted DeepSeek on military-use computers as of Thursday.
- The Foreign Ministry limited access on computers that connect to external networks, though it declined to disclose specific security protocols.
It remains unclear whether similar measures have been taken against ChatGPT, which was also mentioned in the advisory.
DeepSeek Faces Global Scrutiny
South Korea now joins a growing list of countries imposing restrictions on DeepSeek.
- Australia and Taiwan banned DeepSeek this week from all government devices, citing concerns over potential security risks.
- Italy’s data protection authority ordered DeepSeek to suspend its chatbot in January after the company failed to address privacy-related issues.
- Other governments in Europe, the U.S., and India are also examining the implications of using DeepSeek.
South Korea’s privacy watchdog is expected to request more details from DeepSeek regarding how it manages user data, further intensifying scrutiny.
South Korean Tech Firms React
The private sector is also exercising caution with AI tools like DeepSeek:
- Kakao Corp, South Korea’s leading chat app operator, instructed employees to refrain from using DeepSeek over security concerns.
- SK Hynix, a major AI chip manufacturer, has imposed restrictions on generative AI use, only allowing access when necessary.
- Naver, one of South Korea’s top web portals, asked employees not to use AI services that store data outside the company.
DeepSeek’s Competitive Rise and Global Impact
DeepSeek’s latest AI models, launched last month, have positioned the company as a serious competitor in the AI space. The startup claims its AI models rival those developed in the U.S. while being significantly more cost-effective.
Despite its technological advancements, security concerns remain a major hurdle for DeepSeek’s expansion, particularly in regions where data privacy and national security are top priorities.
What’s Next
South Korea’s decision to restrict DeepSeek highlights the increasing global scrutiny surrounding AI security and data privacy concerns. As governments and tech firms tighten controls on AI tools, DeepSeek’s future in international markets remains uncertain.
