Over half of South Korean workers use generative AI for work, according to a Bank of Korea survey released August 18, 2025.

The study, based on interviews with 5,512 workers in May and June, found that 63.5% of Korean employees have tried generative AI, and 51.8% use it at work, while a recent US study reported a rate of 26.5%.

Korean workers using AI spend five to seven hours a week on these tools, representing 12% to 17% of a standard work week, compared to 1% to 5% in the US.

ChatGPT is the most popular tool, used by 67.8% of Korean respondents, with Google’s Gemini second at 19.5%.

The Bank of Korea survey noted that the timing difference between the Korean and US studies may exaggerate the adoption gap, as usage is increasing rapidly worldwide.

Nearly half of Korean workers surveyed believe AI will benefit society, while about a third are preparing for workplace changes through further education or job transitions.

🔗 Source: The Korea Herald

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Korea’s systematic technology leadership strategy drives rapid workplace adoption

Korea’s exceptional AI adoption rate reflects a decades-long national strategy of infrastructure investment and technology leadership.

The country ranks first among all 37 OECD nations in AI adoption at 28% compared to the 8% average, alongside leading positions in IoT adoption (53% vs 27% average) and big data analytics (40% vs 14% average)2.

This dominance stems from systematic investments dating back to the 1960s, when Korea’s R&D spending surged from $526 million in 1981 to $26.3 billion by 2005, with private sector participation reaching 75.6% of total R&D investment3.

The results show in Korea’s advanced digital infrastructure, including the world’s fastest internet speeds and extensive ICT capabilities that create an environment where AI tools can be seamlessly integrated into daily work4.

2️⃣ Digital infrastructure quality determines real-world AI productivity gains

Korea’s workplace AI success demonstrates how infrastructure quality, not just availability, determines whether AI adoption translates into measurable business benefits.

Korean workers report a 3.8% reduction in working hours from AI use, with potential GDP growth contributions of one percentage point since late 20221.