From Silicon Valley to Seoul: Contrasting Models, Shared Visions in Global AI Governance

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

This research offers a comparative analysis of Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance in the United States and South Korea, illustrating how their distinct political cultures, institutional architectures, and normative values shape fundamentally different governance models. The United States adopts a decentralized, market-driven approach characterized by voluntary guidelines and industry self-regulation, which fosters innovation and agility but risks regulatory fragmentation and inconsistent ethical safeguards. In contrast, South Korea employs a centralized, state-led model anchored in binding legislation such as the AI Basic Act, offering strategic coherence and enforceable standards, though potentially at the expense of adaptability and broader stakeholder inclusion. As AI systems become increasingly complex and globally interconnected, the study argues that neither model alone offers a sufficient governance solution. Instead, it advocates for a hybrid framework that combines the legal clarity and ethical consistency of Korea’s centralized approach with the innovation dynamism and stakeholder diversity of the US model. Such convergence is critical to balancing innovation with accountability, adaptability with institutional legitimacy, and market autonomy with the public interest. The research further underscores the necessity of inclusive, multi-stakeholder participation and robust international collaboration to develop rights-based, interoperable standards for AI governance. Engaging the Global South and addressing global asymmetries are essential to fostering a democratic, pluralistic, and equitable AI future. Finally, the study identifies critical avenues for empirical investigation that can inform the development of robust, adaptable, and internationally coherent AI governance models. © 2026 selection and editorial matter, Seok Kang, Wookjae Heo, Woo Hyoung Lee, Jangwoon Lee and Young B. Choi; individual chapters, the contributors.

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