A poll by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) shows South Korean workers have cut their hours by an average of 8.4 per week, or 17.8 percent overall, thanks to generative AI platforms. More than half of respondents use such tools daily, with the highest adoption in the information and telecommunications sector.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) surveyed 3,000 wage workers aged 20 and older, finding that generative AI tools helped them reduce their work hours by an average of 8.4 hours per week, equivalent to 17.8 percent overall. The poll was released on January 28, 2026.
Some 56 percent of respondents reported using AI tools in their daily work, with the rate reaching 77.6 percent in the information and telecommunications industry. Usage stood at 66.5 percent in large firms with 300 or more employees, compared to 52.7 percent in small and medium-sized enterprises. Workers primarily employed AI for drafting or summarizing documents.
Those not using AI cited low work efficiency as the main reason, while employees at large companies highlighted corporate security regulations.
"In order to gain productivity improvements from generative AI platforms, companies need not only to invest in hardware and software but to take approaches to strengthen workers' capabilities," said Lee Chang-keun, a professor at KDI School of Public Policy and Management, in the report.
The findings underscore AI's growing role in reshaping South Korea's labor market and suggest broader corporate adoption ahead.
