Why do South Koreans love AI so much?

South Koreans’ affinity for artificial intelligence permeates daily life, from unmanned immigration checkpoints to AI-powered transit and consumer services. In Seoul, a machine scans faces at passport control; the subway runs on seamless 5G connectivity underground; Gangnam has begun testing an AI-enabled crosswalk assistant, and platforms glow with LED ads celebrating K-pop idols’ birthdays. Real-time bus-stop kiosks offer multilingual questions and robotic dining deliveries appear on city streets. The government’s infrastructure push is complemented by widespread adoption: AI is integrated into ordinary life, signaling a broader national strategy to harness automation for growth. Public sentiment toward AI is notably positive compared with the United States, with only 16% of Koreans more concerned than excited, per Pew Research Center. Most Koreans use AI daily, and the government has designated an AI-powered Fourth Industrial Revolution as the path forward, with aggressive investments and a preference for domestic tools over foreign tech, a stance echoed by KAIST’s Chihyung Jeon.