South Korea, a global leader in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, is grappling with widespread worker anxiety about the impact of AI on job security. (Photo created by generative AI)
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – In a striking paradox, South Korea, a global leader in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, is grappling with widespread worker anxiety about the impact of AI on job security, according to a recent international study.
The report, released by researchers Cheong Se-jeong and Shin Young-kyu from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA), analyzed survey data from ten countries, including the United States, Germany, and South Korea.
The findings reveal a complex relationship between technological advancement and workforce sentiment in one of the world’s most digitally connected nations.
South Korea ranked second among the surveyed countries in concerns about AI’s threat to job security. An alarming 35.4% of South Korean respondents strongly agreed or agreed that emerging technologies like AI could threaten their work, second only to Italy at 39.1%.
The United States, often considered the birthplace of AI, followed closely at 35%.
In stark contrast, Nordic countries exhibited significantly less apprehension. Denmark reported the lowest level of concern at 18.3%, followed by Sweden (20.1%), Germany (21.1%), Finland (24.1%), and the United Kingdom (28.3%).
The study also unveiled a surprising self-assessment gap in digital proficiency among South Korean workers. When asked about their digital skills in relation to their jobs, only 56.9% of South Koreans expressed confidence, the second-lowest among the ten nations, surpassing only Poland at 56.4%.
This stands in sharp contrast to countries like the UK and Norway, where over 70% of respondents felt confident in their digital abilities.
Researchers attribute this discrepancy to exceptionally high self-imposed standards in South Korea.
Despite leading in metrics such as generative AI usage and digital device adoption, individual South Koreans tend to underrate their own skills, fostering a sense of inadequacy in the face of advancing AI technologies.
“The anxiety surrounding digital transformation could potentially serve as a catalyst for South Korea to escape its prolonged economic stagnation,” the researchers noted.
However, they cautioned that uncritical acceptance of new technologies could hinder social cohesion and marginalize digitally vulnerable populations.
Interestingly, the study also revealed a relatively permissive attitude towards AI regulation in South Korea. When asked about regulating technologies that replace human workers but increase corporate profits, 32.9% of South Koreans favored minimal or no regulation — the highest among all surveyed countries.
Germany followed at 22.7%, while Italy (9.7%) and the UK (11.6%) showed the strongest support for regulation.
As AI continues to excel in areas like data analysis, writing, image generation, and translation, major tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, Naver, and SK Telecom are aggressively positioning AI-powered workplace solutions as their next core business focus.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
