공공 인프라에서의 고위험 AI 기술 운영: 공항 생체인식 시스템의 책임감 있는 AI 제도화 비교 연구

The airport industry has recently accelerated its digital transformation by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, among which biometric recognition has emerged as a core infrastructure for enabling contactless automation and enhancing security. However, as a high-risk AI system that involves the processing of highly sensitive personal data, biometric technology requires the institutional implementation of Responsible AI principles such as fairness, explainability, accountability, and data protection. This study conducts a qualitative comparative case analysis of four jurisdictions—European Union (EU), United States, China, and South Korea—to examine how biometric AI systems are regulated and operated in their respective airport industries in accordance with the principles of Responsible AI. Focusing on four key dimensions—personal data protection, high-risk AI designation, accountability mechanisms, and international regulatory alignment—the study compares the institutional robustness and implementation capacity of each country. The results indicate that countries with stronger legal foundations and regulatory enforcement mechanisms tend to achieve higher levels of institutionalization of Responsible AI principles. The study confirms that sustainable public technology governance depends not only on technological performance but also on legal legitimacy and public trust. By moving beyond technology-centered policy discourse, this research offers both theoretical and empirical insights into the institutional conditions necessary for responsibly deploying high-risk AI in public infrastructures.