South Korean ministries and law enforcement agencies have blocked access to DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, after the company failed to respond to a government inquiry on its data management practices.
DeepSeek, which launched its R1 chatbot last month, has positioned itself as a cost-effective competitor to leading U.S. AI firms, disrupting the global industry. However, concerns over its handling of user data have drawn scrutiny from several governments, including those in South Korea, France, and Italy.
South Korea’s data watchdog had submitted a formal request for information regarding DeepSeek’s data policies, but after receiving no response, multiple ministries announced restrictions on the AI service to prevent potential leaks of sensitive information.
“Blocking measures for DeepSeek have been implemented specifically for military work-related PCs with internet access,” a defense ministry official told AFP. The ministry, which oversees soldiers stationed along the North Korean border, has also reinforced security guidelines on the use of generative AI.
South Korea’s police confirmed they had also restricted access to DeepSeek, while the trade ministry said it had temporarily blocked the service on all government computers. The finance, unification, and foreign ministries have either blocked the platform or implemented additional security measures.
Global Restrictions on DeepSeek Grow
The move follows similar actions taken by other countries. Last week, Italy launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s R1 model and prohibited it from processing Italian users’ data. Australia has also banned the service from all government devices based on recommendations from security agencies.
Kim Jong-hwa, an AI professor at Cheju Halla University, suggested that geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China might be influencing responses to DeepSeek but maintained that the bans were justified.
“AI models like ChatGPT already face unresolved security concerns. Given that China operates under a communist regime, I question whether they prioritize security as much as OpenAI does when developing innovative technologies,” Kim said.
“We do not yet know the extent to which DeepSeek has addressed security issues in its chatbot development. Therefore, taking preemptive action is not excessive.”
Beijing Defends Chinese Firms
China has pushed back against the restrictions, insisting that its government does not compel businesses to engage in unlawful data collection.
“The Chinese government will never require enterprises or individuals to illegally collect or store data,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on Thursday.
Guo also criticized what he described as the politicization of economic and technological issues, vowing that Beijing would “firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”
South Korea Eyes AI and Semiconductor Leadership
DeepSeek’s rise has intensified global competition in AI, with South Korea positioning itself as a major player. The company has reportedly developed its AI models using H800 chips—components that were available for sale to China until 2023 under U.S. export restrictions.
South Korea’s semiconductor giants, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, remain key suppliers of high-performance chips used in AI servers. To strengthen its position in the sector, the government announced an additional 34 trillion won ($23.5 billion) investment in semiconductors and other advanced technologies on Wednesday.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok acknowledged the rapid shifts in AI competition, noting that “a Chinese company recently unveiled the DeepSeek R1 model, offering high performance at low cost, making a fresh impact in the market.”
“The global AI race is evolving beyond just infrastructure expansion into a more complex competition that includes software capabilities and other factors,” Choi added.
