South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy have banned the Chinese artificial intelligence model DeepSeek over concerns about data security and potential information leaks.
Government agencies have restricted access to DeepSeek on external network-connected computers as part of a broader effort to prevent sensitive information from being exposed through AI-generated content. The defense ministry stated on Feb. 5 that DeepSeek had raised “technical concerns” and that military work computers with internet access would be blocked from using it.
The restrictions on DeepSeek have extended to the private sector as well. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and KEPCO KPS recently announced bans on its use. Domestic tech firms such as Kakao and LG Uplus have also prohibited its use for business purposes. Major corporations, including Samsung, SK, and LG Electronics, already prevent employees from accessing external generative AI programs.
DeepSeek has faced criticism for collecting excessive user data, including keyboard input patterns. Countries such as Australia, Taiwan, and the U.S. state of Texas have banned its use on government devices, while Italy has blocked its download from Google and Apple app stores.