South Korea demonstrates a profound embrace of artificial intelligence, with a notable enthusiasm that distinguishes it from many other nations. A survey revealed that only 16% of South Koreans expressed more concern than excitement about AI, the lowest figure among 25 surveyed countries. This contrasts sharply with the United States, where 50% of Americans reported being more worried than excited about AI. A majority of South Koreans engage with AI on a daily basis, utilizing it for personal assistance and in their professional lives.
This widespread adoption is facilitated by South Korea’s status as one of the world’s most connected countries. The nation’s infrastructure supports the seamless integration of new technologies, as evidenced by its advanced public transportation systems featuring interactive digital displays and AI-powered kiosks. Government agencies in South Korea are also proactive in adopting AI, implementing AI textbooks in educational settings and AI-driven robots for eldercare. This forward-thinking approach extends to its designation of an AI-powered Fourth Industrial Revolution as the nation’s strategic direction, backed by significant governmental promotion and investment.
South Korea’s journey toward technological leadership has been a deliberate progression. In the 1970s, the country focused on manufacturing steel and ships. This evolved in the 1980s to the production of semiconductors, followed by broadband infrastructure in the 1990s, and smartphones in the 2000s. Currently, major South Korean companies like Samsung and SK Hynix are dominant global suppliers of high-bandwidth memory chips, essential components for advanced AI technologies, including those developed by Nvidia. The national economy has become heavily reliant on these semiconductor powerhouses, contributing to record highs in the Kospi equity index in 2026.
The South Korean government, under President Lee Jae-myung, has set an ambitious goal to position the country among the top three global AI powers, alongside the US and China. Following his inauguration in 2025, President Lee established the Presidential Council on National AI Strategy, aimed at securing substantial computing power and fostering domestic AI model development. The government actively supports its leading semiconductor firms, Samsung and SK Hynix, through incentives like tax credits and favorable financing. In 2024, South Korea enacted the AI Basic Act, one of the world’s first comprehensive legal frameworks for AI, prioritizing development with a less stringent regulatory approach.
This national focus on AI innovation is reflected in public opinion, with 70% of South Koreans viewing the advancement of science and medicine through AI as a higher priority than regulating industries. This emphasis has contributed to South Korea’s strong performance in AI development, ranking third globally in the number of notable AI models. For a country of its size, AI presents an opportunity to significantly enhance its global standing.
However, this concentrated drive for technological advancement also presents challenges and areas for critical consideration. The prioritization of economic development in the national AI agenda has led to less focus on the broader societal, political, and ethical implications of the technology. A notable instance occurred in 2025 when the government faced criticism for releasing AI textbooks containing factual errors and data privacy concerns without prior pilot testing. Furthermore, despite general optimism, concerns about job displacement due to AI persist. The announcement by Hyundai Motor Group in January regarding the deployment of Atlas humanoid robots in its factories, for example, was met with strong opposition from the union, which demanded labor-management agreements before the introduction of such technologies. Overall, 64% of South Koreans express apprehension about AI potentially leading to job losses.
