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South Korea
Rank #9Tech manufacturing giant advancing in AI with strong corporate backing
59.3
ASI Score
+0.4%
Total Investment
$8.5B
AI Companies
87
Top Researchers
1,234
Compute Power
320 PFLOPS
Power
130 GW
Overview
South Korea leverages its electronics and telecommunications leadership to advance AI development. Major conglomerates like Samsung and LG drive innovation, while the government provides substantial support for AI research and infrastructure.
Major AI Projects
Samsung AI Chips
ProductionNext-generation AI processors
Naver HyperCLOVA
ProductionKorean language AI model
AI Smart City Sejong
Active DevelopmentCitywide AI implementation
Government Initiatives
- National AI Strategy (2019) - $1.95 billion investment
- AI Semiconductor Initiative
- Digital New Deal including AI
- AI Graduate Schools program
- K-AI Alliance formation
Challenges
- •Chaebol dominance limiting startups
- •Hierarchical corporate culture
- •Competition from China and Japan
- •Limited global market reach
- •Regulatory constraints
Opportunities
- •World-leading semiconductor industry
- •Advanced 5G/6G infrastructure
- •Strong consumer electronics market
- •Government digital transformation push
- •Cultural content (K-culture) AI applications
Top Organizations
Key Strengths
Electronics5G/6GConsumer AIGovernment Support
Research Output
Research Institutions35
Annual Papers1,670
7-Day Change+1.6%
Future Outlook
South Korea is well-positioned to lead in AI hardware and consumer applications. Success will depend on fostering innovation beyond large conglomerates and expanding global partnerships.
International Partnerships
US-Korea AI semiconductor alliance
EU-Korea digital partnership
ASEAN smart city collaboration
Japan-Korea AI research exchange
Global AI chip alliance participation
Last updated: 10/7/2025