{"id":1786,"date":"2025-09-17T10:57:04","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T10:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/?p=1786"},"modified":"2025-09-17T10:57:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T10:57:07","slug":"openais-seoul-debut-stirs-fresh-tensions-in-koreas-ai-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/2025\/09\/17\/openais-seoul-debut-stirs-fresh-tensions-in-koreas-ai-race\/","title":{"rendered":"OpenAI\u2019s Seoul debut stirs fresh tensions in Korea\u2019s AI race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Global AI giant\u2019s new office seen as bid to shape rules, forge ties with Kakao, SKT, LG<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"OpenAI
OpenAI Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Sept. 10. (Yonhap)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, launched its Korean subsidiary last week, marking its third office in Asia and 12th worldwide. The move has added fresh momentum and competition to Korea\u2019s rapidly advancing AI ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry watchers view OpenAI\u2019s entry as a clear signal of Korea\u2019s rising prominence as a global AI hub. With robust digital infrastructure and a tech-savvy population, the country is increasingly seen as a prime testbed for next-generation AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKorea is a unique combination of cutting-edge infrastructure, innovative companies and early adopters, making it an ideal hub for AI innovation,\u201d said Jason Kwon, chief strategy officer at OpenAI, during a press briefing in Seoul on Sept. 10. \u201cKorea is also leading the way in AI adoption.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to market research firm IMARC Group, Korea\u2019s AI market was valued at $3.12 billion in 2024 and is projected to surge to $30 billion by 2033, posting a compound annual growth rate of 26.6 percent from 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observers interpret OpenAI\u2019s Korea expansion as a dual-pronged strategy to capture market share while proactively aligning with evolving regulatory frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Korea\u2019s basic law on artificial intelligence is set to take effect in January 2026, the company\u2019s local presence is widely seen as a preemptive step to navigate legal hurdles and forge early partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seoul\u2019s stature as a global digital content powerhouse further enhances its appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy integrating with Korea\u2019s K-content ecosystem and digital platforms, OpenAI could transform Seoul into a global showcase for real-world AI applications,\u201d said an industry source, who requested anonymity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OpenAI has already unveiled strategic partnerships with leading Korean companies, including Kakao, SK Telecom, LG Electronics, Krafton and Yanolja \u2014 fueling speculation over potential future collaborations with tech giants such as Samsung Electronics and SK Group as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company emphasized that its Korean strategy will focus on \u201cgrowth through collaboration.\u201d However, concerns are surfacing within Korea\u2019s tech circles over a potential overdependence on OpenAI\u2019s ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf OpenAI dominates Korea\u2019s AI infrastructure, we may become overly reliant on US-based platforms,\u201d said another source. \u201cThis is no longer just about who has the better model \u2014 it\u2019s a race over scale, data sovereignty and computing power. OpenAI\u2019s massive resources could overshadow domestic initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some sources suggest the timing of OpenAI\u2019s launch may be a calculated move to influence Korea\u2019s emerging regulatory norms from within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not just here to scale their user base,\u201d a source said. \u201cThey want a seat at the table \u2014 to shape the rules, define compliance and embed themselves in Korea\u2019s digital policy architecture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Korean government has declared 2025 the inaugural year of becoming a \u201cglobal AI powerhouse,\u201d rolling out ambitious policy road maps and funding programs to bolster domestic innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But concerns are mounting within the local industry that partnerships between domestic companies and OpenAI \u2014 rather than homegrown AI firms \u2014 could hinder the development of Korea\u2019s independent AI capabilities and delay efforts to secure technological sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile partnerships with OpenAI provide clear short-term benefits, continued investment in homegrown AI technologies is essential to maintain the autonomy and long-term competitiveness of Korea\u2019s AI sector,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnless Korean AI companies make meaningful strides in developing their own models and core technologies, they risk losing ground in the fast-evolving global AI race,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding intrigue to OpenAI\u2019s expansion are rumors surrounding a possible equity stake involving Kakao founder Kim Beom-su.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile Kim\u2019s motivation may have waned due to health-related concerns, OpenAI\u2019s strong ties with Kakao make a stake acquisition a plausible scenario,\u201d said Kim Jin-gu, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Kakao is set to introduce ChatGPT-powered features directly into its flagship messaging app, KakaoTalk, as part of a strategic partnership forged with OpenAI in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

source : https:\/\/m.koreaherald.com\/article\/10577647<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Global AI giant\u2019s new office seen as bid to shape rules, forge ties with Kakao, SKT, LG OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, launched its Korean subsidiary last week, marking its third office in Asia and 12th worldwide. The move has added fresh momentum and competition to Korea\u2019s rapidly advancing AI ecosystem. Industry watchers view OpenAI\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1786"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1786\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1788,"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1786\/revisions\/1788"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hmcokorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}