REGULATION & LEGISLATION

Medical Data as a 'Strategic Asset of the AI Era'… Public Hearing for 'Digital Healthcare Act' Begins in Earnest

On June 22, 2026, the National Assembly, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-seok's office, held a public hearing on the enactment of the 'Act on Supporting the Use of Digital Healthcare and Health and Medical Information' (initially proposed by Lawmaker Seo on November 24, 2025) to gather opinions from various sectors. The bill is designed as a foundational law containing both 'utilization foundations'—such as definitions, national responsibilities, basic plans, the right to demand transmission (medical MyData), the legalization of pseudonymization review procedures, and regulatory sandboxes/pilot projects—and 'protective safeguards.' The core controversy lies between 'utilization versus protection,' with the industry prioritizing predictability in data use, while the medical community and civil society emphasize re-identification risks, patient consent, and guaranteed control. Presenter Professor Kim Jae-sun pointed out the slow legislative pace in South Korea, noting that major countries like Japan, Finland, Germany, and the EU have already established relevant special laws while South Korea remains at the bill submission stage. However, as this bill is still in the early legislative stage following its proposal and public hearing, further reviews by standing committees, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the plenary session remain ahead, with the coordination of similar bills, such as one proposed by Lawmaker Ahn Sang-hoon, acting as a variable.