South Koreas ChatGPT Ranking What The Numbers Really Mean
South Korea has been identified as the second-largest market globally for paid ChatGPT subscribers, a position trailing only the United States. This announcement was made by OpenAI's Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon, during a press event in Seoul where the company also revealed plans for its new office in the city.
OpenAI's Announcement and Korean Market Buzz
Jason Kwon highlighted South Korea's significant engagement with OpenAI's technologies. Beyond the impressive paid subscriber numbers, Korea ranks as a top-five country for ChatGPT business users and falls within the global top ten for both overall usage and developer activity on OpenAI’s API. Sandy Kunvatanagarn, OpenAI’s head of policy for the Asia-Pacific region, further emphasized this trend, noting on LinkedIn that weekly active users in Korea had surged 4.5 times in the past year, describing the growth as "off the charts."
This data paints a picture of a nation eagerly adopting generative AI. However, experts advise a nuanced interpretation of these figures.
Beyond the Headline What Does Second Place Truly Mean
While the ranking is a factual data point, industry experts suggest it doesn't automatically translate to leadership or a mature AI market. Kang Jung-soo, director of local AI startup BludotAI Research Center, commented to The Korea Herald, “It’s a real number, but it needs context. Paid subscribers are just one piece of the story. You can be second in the world with only a small margin. It doesn’t mean you have a dominant or mature market.”
Decoding the Numbers Paid vs Overall Usage
OpenAI has not released precise subscriber figures broken down by country. Globally, ChatGPT was reported to have around 20 million paying subscribers as of April 2025. However, the distribution between the US, Korea, or other nations, and whether this ranking reflects sustained subscriptions or a temporary increase, remains unclear. Concurrently, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman mentioned in April that total weekly active users, encompassing both free and paid tiers, had doubled in recent weeks, potentially exceeding 800 million worldwide.
In South Korea, broader usage statistics offer a more comprehensive view. WiseApp, a Seoul-based analytics firm, reported that 17.4 million people in Korea—more than a third of the entire population—used the ChatGPT mobile app in April. This indicates widespread adoption beyond just premium services.
The Power of Infrastructure and Accessibility
“Where ChatGPT is exploding in Korea is not in premium usage,” Kang explained. “It’s in sheer accessibility. Everyone has the internet. Everyone has a smartphone. It’s not surprising that people try it, use it often, and integrate it quickly into daily life.”
This assertion is supported by South Korea's robust digital infrastructure. Smartphone penetration exceeds 95 percent, according to 2023 Gallup Korea polls, and virtually all households have broadband access. These conditions are not easily replicated elsewhere. Furthermore, Korean users gained relatively early access to the latest AI models, partly due to a regulatory environment with fewer immediate hurdles compared to some European nations dealing with strict data protection laws.
Cultural Currents Why Korea Adopts Tech So Fast
Professor Choi Byung-ho of Korea University’s AI Research Institute believes that rapid adoption is also a societal characteristic. “This is a society that moves fast,” he stated. “Half the population lives in one metropolitan region. News, trends, apps ... they spread overnight. AI tools don’t feel abstract here. They feel immediate.”
Choi also pointed to the cultural memory of a significant AI event: the 2016 match where Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeated Korean Go champion Lee Sedol. “That wasn’t just a sports loss. It was a wake-up call,” he recalled. “AI became something you couldn’t ignore. I think many Koreans still carry that sense that they have to stay ahead, or at least not fall behind.”
In conclusion, while South Korea's number two ranking in paid ChatGPT users is noteworthy, it appears to be a multifaceted phenomenon driven significantly by exceptional digital access, societal dynamics, and a keen public awareness of AI, rather than solely indicating a mature or dominant AI market from a development perspective.
