The South Korean Ministry of Industry has 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 has temporarily blocked employees from accessing DeepSeek's AI model due to concerns about potential data leaks. |
Previously, on February 5th, the South Korean government requested that ministries and agencies exercise caution when using AI services in the workplace. This list included DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and other artificial intelligence platforms, due to concerns about the risk of data leaks.
According to government officials, several key South Korean agencies, including the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Defense , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Trade and Energy, have collectively blocked access to the DeepSeek AI platform on their employees' work devices. This move aims to enhance security, prevent data leaks, and protect sensitive information within the government system.
In addition, the state-owned power company Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power also implemented similar measures from the beginning of February, particularly amid growing concerns about cybersecurity and data collection from foreign AI platforms. These measures reflect South Korea's caution in controlling artificial intelligence technology, especially models that have access to critical national data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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 restrictions on DeepSeek are part of the South Korean government's overall effort to control risks associated with artificial intelligence technology, particularly the risk of data leaks and unauthorized information gathering from foreign AI platforms. This reflects the government's growing concern for cybersecurity in the context of rapidly developing AI and its potential impact on critical 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 poses a potential security risk, sparking global concern about the risks posed by foreign artificial intelligence platforms.
In January 2025, the Italian data protection authority blocked access to a chatbot from a Chinese startup because the company failed to meet privacy policy requirements.
Governments in Europe, the US, and India are also assessing the potential risks associated with the use of DeepSeek, reflecting global concerns about the security and privacy of data from this AI platform.
In South Korea, authorities are planning to request DeepSeek to provide a detailed explanation of its process for collecting, storing, and processing users' personal information. This move aims to ensure the AI platform complies with data security and privacy regulations, and to assess the potential risks arising from the company's operations in the country.
Representatives from Kakao Corp, the company behind South Korea's most popular messaging app, said they have banned employees from using DeepSeek. This decision comes just one day after Kakao announced a partnership with OpenAI, demonstrating the company's caution in selecting AI platforms and reflecting a trend toward tighter control over artificial intelligence technologies originating from China.
Overall, South Korean technology companies are becoming increasingly cautious about AI generation platforms. SK Hynix, one of the leading AI chip manufacturers, has implemented a strict control policy, restricting the internal use of AI services. The company only allows access when absolutely necessary, aiming to minimize the risk of sensitive information leaks and ensure data security in the workplace.
Meanwhile, Naver, one of South Korea's leading web portal operators, said it has issued a regulation prohibiting employees from using AI platforms to store data outside the company's system, in order to enhance security and protect internal information.
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