OpenAI to Set Up Office in South Korea Amid Growing Demand

By Kwanwoo Jun

OpenAI, the U.S. artificial-intelligence startup behind ChatGPT, plans to set up an office in South Korea amid growing demand for its services in the region.

The new OpenAI office, its third in Asia, is scheduled to open in Seoul in the coming months, following the launch of offices in Japan and Singapore. It would mark "a significant step forward in deepening local engagement and building stronger partnerships" across the region, the SanFrancisco-based AI company said in a statement Monday.

South Korea has the largest number of paying ChatGPT subscribers outside the U.S., OpenAI said. The company has expanded business partnerships with local firms, including Kakao, which operates the most popular messaging service in South Korea.

Kakao, the operator of mobile-messaging app KakaoTalk, which is used by around 90% of smartphone users in South Korea, is collaborating with OpenAI to integrate advanced AI into its services and enhance employee productivity, it said Monday. Both sides announced in February an agreement on strategic collaboration.

"Korea's full-stack AI ecosystem makes it one of the most promising markets in the world for meaningful AI impact, from silicon to software, and students to seniors," Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon said in the statement.

OpenAI said it also maintains partnerships with video-game developer Krafton, state lender Korea Development Bank and wireless-communications operator SK Telecom in South Korea.

News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

Write to Kwanwoo Jun at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

05-26-25 0414ET