Usage rate of generative AI among Korean workers, etc. (Image courtesy of Bank of Korea)
SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — More than half of South Korean workers are now using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools on the job, potentially contributing to a significant uptick in national productivity, according to a new report released by the Bank of Korea on Monday.
The report, titled “Rapid Expansion of AI and Its Productivity Effects,” found that 63.5% of Korean workers have used generative AI at least once, and 51.8% have applied it specifically for work purposes. Notably, 17.1% reported using it regularly on the job.
The Bank of Korea noted that Korea’s workplace adoption rate is nearly twice that of the United States (26.5%) and about eight times higher than the early adoption of the internet three years after its commercialization (7.8%).
AI Adoption Set to Shift Employment Landscape, Report Finds (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
High Usage Among Young, Educated, and White-Collar Workers
The use of generative AI is highest among men (55.1%), young workers aged 18–29 (67.5%), and those with postgraduate degrees (72.9%). By occupation, professionals (69.2%), managers (65.4%), and office workers (63.1%) are leading adopters.
South Koreans also far outpace their American counterparts in intensity of use, spending 5–7 hours per week with AI tools compared to the U.S. average of 0.5–2.2 hours. The proportion of “heavy users” — those using AI for over an hour daily — stood at 78.6% in Korea, more than double the U.S. rate of 31.8%.
Impact of AI Adoption on Working Hours Among Korean Workers. (Image courtesy of Bank of Korea)
Tangible Impact on Work Hours and GDP
The report estimates that generative AI has reduced average working hours by 3.8%, or approximately 1.5 hours per 40-hour workweek. This reduction, if redirected toward additional work rather than leisure, could translate into a 1.0 percentage point increase in labor productivity.
Applying this estimate, the Bank of Korea concluded that generative AI may have accounted for up to one percentage point of Korea’s 3.9% GDP growth from Q4 2022 to Q2 2025.
However, the bank cautioned that the calculation assumes all time saved was reinvested into productive labor. If workers used the freed-up time for leisure instead, the actual contribution to GDP would be lower.
Public Sentiment and Social Investment Potential
Despite the fast adoption, 54.1% of users said AI had not yet reduced their working hours — suggesting room for further gains as usage matures.
When asked about AI’s societal impact, 48.6% of respondents viewed it positively. Additionally, 32.3% expressed willingness to contribute to a public AI development fund. The Bank of Korea projected that such a fund could raise 38 trillion won (approx. $28 billion) over the next five years, underlining the potential for public-private cooperation in AI development.
The findings are based on a nationwide survey conducted between May 19 and June 17, 2025, with responses from 5,512 employed Koreans aged 15 to 64.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
