Koreans are increasingly using AI at work, with early adopters seeing benefits.
Over half (51%) of workers in Korea said they were already using AI tools once a month to help them in their work lives.
How are Koreans using AI?
MSMEs need support to catch up to large enterprises.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), defined as businesses with fewer than 250 employees, risk falling behind their larger counterparts. While 79% of large enterprises in Korea say they use AI, only 40% of small businesses are doing the same.
Additionally, while half of senior decision makers in large enterprises say they know a lot about AI, only 1 in 10 of those in MSMEs say they do.
This dynamic will slow overall adoption unless MSMEs have access to the right knowledge and training.
Unlocking Korean Potential:
Google is Helping to Drive Success for Korea’s Startups.
Google has a variety of programs to provide the Korean workforce and startups with high-quality and globally recognized AI training and mentorship, networking opportunities, and financial support. These programs, such as the Google Play ChangGoo Program, Google for Startups Accelerator (GFSA) program10, and Google for Startups have helped Korean startups, SMEs, developers and students acquire digital skills and supported the growth of local startups.
Korean workers need extra knowledge and confidence to take advantage of AI tools.
Widespread diffusion of AI tools across the population will require investment in a full spectrum of skills — from advanced coding to general digital literacy — as well as increasing the public’s confidence in how to use AI tools.
Korean workers said they didn’t have a clear idea of how to use AI tools at work, and this uncertainty remains a barrier to wider adoption.
To date, just 36% of employers say they have offered AI training to employees, highlighting the need for more AI training and guidance in the workplace.
of workers in Korea said they would be interested in skills training to help to them better take advantage of AI.
Fueling Korea’s AI Future:
Google is Empowering Youths, Entrepreneurs, and Educators with Critical AI Skills.
Aiming to equip Korean youth with foundational AI skills and promote the responsible use of AI, Google is collaborating with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL) to provide 50,000 Google AI Essentials scholarships to youths between 20 and 30 years old. To further cultivate entrepreneurship in the AI field, Google also supports the AI Startup School, a six-week educational series that is a collaboration between Google Startup Campus and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The series provides aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools to build globally competitive AI startups.
Google also provides comprehensive training like Gemini Academy to equip educators and learners with the knowledge and skills to effectively utilize AI tools, particularly Gemini, in their day-to-day life.
Note: All data points, unless otherwise specified, are derived by Public First’s own research & modelling. These are estimations, and the figures have been rounded up.