South Korea's Ministry of Industry temporarily blocked employees from accessing DeepSeek's AI model due to concerns about the risk of information leaks and data collection from users.
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South Korea temporarily blocks employees from accessing DeepSeek's AI model over concerns about information leaks |
Earlier, on February 5, the South Korean government asked ministries to be cautious when using AI services in the workplace. In addition to DeepSeek, the list also includes ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence platforms, due to concerns about the risk of data leakage.
According to government officials, several key South Korean agencies, including the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of National Defense , Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Energy, have simultaneously blocked access to the DeepSeek AI platform on civil servants' work devices. The move is aimed at enhancing security, preventing the risk of data leaks, and protecting sensitive information in government systems.
In addition, state-owned Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has also taken similar measures since early February, especially amid growing concerns about cybersecurity and data collection from foreign AI platforms. These measures reflect South Korea’s caution in regulating artificial intelligence technology, especially models that have access to important national data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Foreign Ministry has restricted access to the DeepSeek AI platform on computers connected to external networks. However, the agency did not disclose the specific security measures implemented, indicating caution in protecting sensitive information.
The restriction of DeepSeek is part of the South Korean government’s overall efforts to control risks related to artificial intelligence technology, especially the risk of data leakage and unauthorized information collection from foreign AI platforms. This reflects the government’s growing concern over cybersecurity as AI develops rapidly and can impact important areas such as diplomacy, defense and the economy.
South Korea has become the latest country to raise concerns about AI models originating from China. Previously, Australia and Taiwan (China) also warned that DeepSeek posed a security risk, raising global concerns about risks from foreign artificial intelligence platforms.
In January 2025, Italy's data protection authority blocked access to the Chinese startup's chatbot because the company failed to meet privacy policy requirements.
Governments in Europe, the US and India are also assessing potential risks associated with using DeepSeek, reflecting global concerns about the security and privacy of data from the AI platform.
In South Korea, authorities are planning to ask DeepSeek to provide a detailed explanation of how it collects, stores, and processes users’ personal information. The move is aimed at ensuring the AI platform complies with data security and privacy regulations, and assessing the level of risks that may arise from the company’s operations in the country.
Kakao Corp., the company behind South Korea’s most popular messaging app, said it has banned employees from using DeepSeek. The decision, which comes just a day after Kakao announced a partnership with OpenAI, reflects the company’s cautious approach to AI platforms and reflects a trend toward tighter controls on artificial intelligence technologies originating in China.
In general, tech companies in South Korea are becoming more cautious with generative AI platforms. SK Hynix, one of the leading AI chip makers, has adopted a strict control policy, limiting the use of AI services internally. The company only allows access when absolutely necessary, to minimize the risk of important information being leaked and ensure data security in the work environment.
Meanwhile, Naver, one of the leading web portal operators in South Korea, said it has issued a regulation prohibiting employees from using AI platforms that store data outside the company's system, in order to enhance security and protect internal information.
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