Seoul: The number of users of generative artificial intelligence (AI) services in South Korea nearly doubled from a year earlier in 2024, government data showed Sunday. In a survey on internet usage conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the rate of respondents who experienced generative AI services jumped to 33.3 percent last year from 17.6 percent a year ago.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the outcome means 1 out of 3 internet users in South Korea have experienced generative AI services, such as ChatGPT, the AI chatbot created by U.S.-based OpenAI. Nearly 82 percent of the users accessed generative AI services for information research. Additionally, 44 percent of these users employed such services for assistance in paperwork, and 40 percent used them for foreign language translation.
The survey also revealed that about 98 percent of the respondents use instant messaging services, with KakaoTalk being the predominant choice over other services. More than 95 percent of users reported using the online video platform YouTube.
In terms of online shopping habits, overseas direct purchases by internet shopping customers rose to 34 percent last year from the previous year's 20 percent. This increase is attributed to the expansion of Chinese e-commerce platforms, including AliExpress and Temu, into the Korean market.
The Ministry of Science and ICT conducted the survey on 60,229 family members from 25,509 households across the country.