The 16% vs 50% Gap: Why South Korea Is Madly in Love With AI, According to POLITICO
In February 2026, POLITICO introduced South Korea as 'The Country That's Madly in Love With AI.' A Pew Research Center survey found only 16% of South Koreans expressed concern about AI—the lowest among 25 countries surveyed—while the US and Italy recorded 50%.
On February 21, 2026, the US political media outlet POLITICO introduced South Korea as 'The Country That's Madly in Love With AI.' This was not mere praise, but an in-depth report analyzing the phenomenon of South Korea uniquely embracing AI while the Western world falls into AI anxiety.
Images Unavailable
Due to the nature of this topic (international press coverage + statistical data), obtaining directly related images was impossible. POLITICO screenshots are copyright protected, and Pew Research Center charts are also subject to original source copyright restrictions.
TL;DR
- Pew Research Center survey results show only 16% of South Koreans expressed concern about AI—the lowest among 25 countries
- In the US and Italy, 50% expressed concern about AI, along with Australia (49%), Canada (45%), and the UK (39%)
- Microsoft data: South Korea's AI adoption rate rose to 30.7%, jumping 7 ranks to record the world's fastest AI adoption growth rate
- IMF analysis: Half of South Korean jobs are exposed to AI, with women, young people, highly educated workers, and high-income earners more affected
- The Korean government aims to build 500 AI-based factories by 2030, leading the 'Physical AI' era
Numbers Tell a Stark Contrast
16% vs 50%: Why Is South Korea Different?
In a 25-country survey conducted by Pew Research Center in 2025, South Korea recorded the lowest rate at 16% for those who answered that their concern about AI outweighs their excitement. In contrast, the US and Italy recorded 50%, Australia 49%, Canada 45%, and the UK 39% expressing concern about AI.
This gap is not simply a cultural difference. POLITICO identified South Korea's history as a 'resource-poor nation that has made technology a survival tool' as the core reason. Sejin Kim, Deputy Director of the Korea Innovation and Competitiveness Center, explained, "For decades, adopting new technology has been directly linked to survival and growth," adding that "AI leads to FOMO (fear of missing out), with a strong perception that 'if everyone is already using it and I can't learn it, I'll fall behind.'"
World's Highest Growth Rate: 7-Rank Jump
According to data released by Microsoft on January 12, 2026, South Korea's AI adoption rate as of the second half of 2025 was 30.7%, rising 7 ranks year-over-year to record the world's fastest AI adoption growth rate. This figure represents the proportion of the working-age population that has used generative AI at least once.
The IMF stated in its March 2025 report that "South Korea is at the global forefront of AI adoption," analyzing that "adoption rates are particularly high among large companies, young companies, and technology-leading companies." Approximately 50% of South Korean jobs are exposed to AI, with women, young people, highly educated workers, and high-income earners being more affected.
South Korea's Unique AI Ecosystem
From 'Survival Technology' to 'National Strategy'
The Korean government has positioned AI not as mere software innovation but as a core strategy for manufacturing revival. The plan is to build 500 AI-based factories by 2030 to become a leading nation in the 'Physical AI' era. By advancing manufacturing, which accounts for one-third of GDP, with AI, the government supports even small supply chain companies to gain global competitiveness.
OpenAI's 'South Korea Economic Blueprint' report released in October 2025 assessed that "South Korea's AI healthcare market will grow from $377 million in 2023 to $6.67 billion in 2030, representing an annual average growth of 50.8%," noting that "South Korea's strong digital infrastructure, single insurance system, and high electronic medical record adoption rate provide support."
Opposite Direction from EU: Optimism Over Regulation
South Korea's 'AI Basic Act' and the EU's 'AI Act' show a stark contrast. While the EU focused on regulating high-risk AI, South Korea has government-led dissemination of an optimistic narrative that "AI is an inevitable and essential future tool." South Korea's AI Safety Act, which came into effect on January 22, 2026, mandates human oversight in high-risk areas (such as nuclear safety), but startups expressed concerns about the "heavy regulatory burden."
Meanwhile, Forbes evaluated it as a "global milestone" on January 30, 2026, stating that "South Korea became the first in the world to enact an AI safety law that includes mental health impacts."
Diffusion Mechanism: Permeating Advertising, Art, and Education on All Fronts
In a February 9, 2026 on-site report from Seoul, POLITICO's Catherine Kim stated, "While fear and skepticism about AI are increasing in the West, in South Korea, AI is everywhere: advertising, art, news, classrooms."
On Reddit's r/Living_in_Korea community, discussions about "Why does South Korea actively embrace AI even when it looks awkward?" are active. One user mentioned, "I read that Korean is the second most-used language on ChatGPT after English. That's shocking." Korean TV programs often use AI dubbing instead of subtitles for foreigners' statements, and BLACKPINK's new song 'Jump' music video also sparked controversy for excessive use of AI visuals.
Sustainability: Short-Term Fad or Structural Transformation?
Half Day~1 Day: Western AI Anxiety Continues
While POLITICO's report was published on February 21, 2026, Western media's interest in South Korea's AI has been ongoing for several months. After the Pew survey was released in October 2025, major institutions including Microsoft (January 2026), the IMF (March 2025), and OpenAI (October 2025) consecutively identified South Korea as an AI-leading nation.
1~3 Days: Internal Debate in South Korea Also Intensifies
TechPolicy.Press criticized on February 3, 2026, that "South Korea may regret its world-first AI law," noting that "most rules won't be implemented until August 2026, and high-risk AI regulation is too lenient." East Asia Forum pointed out on January 17, 2026, that "South Korea's AI revolution forces a US-China balancing act," stating that "strengthening defense AI cooperation with the US complicates relations with China."
Long-term (1 year+): Signs of Structural Transformation
The IMF emphasized that "South Korea's strong innovation and digital infrastructure increases AI readiness, but labor market flexibility and strengthened social safety nets are essential to fully realize AI potential." South Korea's AI market size is projected to grow from $7.17 billion in 2025 to $53.87 billion in 2032, representing annual average growth of 33.4% (Fortune Business Insights).
Risks: Shadows of Optimism
Misinformation Possibility: "AI Cannot Yet Read Korean Culture"
In a November 18, 2025 ZDNet interview, Lee Kwon-soo, Team Leader at the Korean Culture Information Service Agency, warned, "Simply accumulating data is meaningless. Structural data that can contain Korean identity is needed," adding that "Explainable data that experts can verify must be created. Otherwise, AI has no choice but to produce answers that misunderstand or distort cultural facts."
The Korean Culture Information Service Agency is currently building AI training data in five areas: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism press releases from 1995-2025, Korean Folk Encyclopedia, traditional patterns, traditional costumes, and Korean traditional music. Regarding traditional patterns in particular, they explained that "emotional expressions like elegance and splendor must be built together to enable pattern searches or image generation in actual services."
Hate/Incitement: Reddit "Why Accept AI Even When It's Awkward"
Reddit users responded that "AI dubbing voices on Korean TV are extremely awkward and unnatural" and "The AI visuals in BLACKPINK's new song music video were so artificial that they were actually distracting." This suggests South Korea's tendency to prioritize AI adoption speed over AI quality.
Privacy: High-Risk AI Regulation Controversy
TechPolicy.Press criticized that "South Korea's AI law postpones high-risk AI regulation until August 2026, and the scope of mandatory human oversight is too narrow," noting that "only some areas like nuclear safety are included." While startups worry about regulatory compliance burdens, civic groups point out that "regulation is too lenient."
Secondary Issue: 'Sovereign AI' and Geopolitical Balance
Between US and China: AI Is Not Neutral
East Asia Forum analyzed that "South Korea's 'AI for All' agenda aims to build an independent AI ecosystem and leap to become one of the world's top three AI powers," noting that it's "a strategy to solve population decline and productivity decline problems with AI." However, it pointed out that "strengthening cooperation on defense technology and regional initiatives with the US complicates relations with China and tests President Lee Jae-myung's 'pragmatic diplomacy.'"
Samsung SDS analyzed "How far has South Korea's AI come and what opportunities lie ahead?" in its January 9, 2026 'Sovereign AI' report. The key is data sovereignty and computing independence. Whether South Korea can build its own AI models and infrastructure without depending on US Big Tech is crucial.
K-AI's Identity: Respecting Creativity and Ethics
Weekly Donga emphasized on August 1, 2025, that "We train AI with our data, and that AI generates astronomical profits. K-AI aims for ethical AI that respects creativity and contains cultural depth," noting that "key keywords are transparency and accountability, guaranteeing creators' rights, and respecting community values and human rights."
Checklist: 5 Things You Should Know
Reference Links
- POLITICO - The Country That's Madly in Love With AI (2026.02.21)
- POLITICO - Inside South Korea's AI boom (2026.02.09)
- Microsoft - Global AI Adoption in 2025 (2026.01.08)
- IMF - Transforming the Future: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Korea (2025.03.04)
- OpenAI - AI in South Korea Economic Blueprint (2025.10)
- Pew Research Center - How people around the world view AI (2025.10.15)
- ZDNet Korea - Korean Culture Information Service Agency "AI Cannot Yet Read Korean Culture" (2025.11.18)
- East Asia Forum - South Korea's AI revolution is forcing a US–China balancing act (2026.01.17)
Image Source
Due to the nature of this topic (international press coverage + statistical data), obtaining directly related images was impossible. POLITICO article screenshots, Pew Research Center charts, and Microsoft report graphics are all copyright protected, and unauthorized use may result in legal issues.