OpenAI has announced plans to open a new office in Seoul, South Korea, marking its third location in Asia as it continues expanding its global footprint.
The move reflects the company’s growing consumer base in the country, which now ranks as the largest market for paid ChatGPT subscriptions outside the United States.
In a statement released Monday, OpenAI confirmed that it has officially established a legal entity in South Korea and has begun hiring staff to support future operations. The Seoul office will focus on deepening relationships with local stakeholders, including companies, policymakers, and researchers.
“As someone whose family’s story is deeply tied to Korea, it was especially meaningful to announce today that we’ll soon open an OpenAI office in Seoul,” said Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Kwon, who is currently visiting the region, also noted that ChatGPT’s weekly user base in South Korea grew 4.5 times over the past year, describing the country’s adoption rate as “off the charts.”
OpenAI attributed South Korea’s rapid uptake of AI tools to a combination of factors, including its strong technology sector, innovative culture, and public openness to integrating artificial intelligence into everyday life.
“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,” Kwon said in the company’s announcement.
The Seoul office will follow the openings of OpenAI’s Asian offices in Tokyo and Singapore earlier this year. The San Francisco-based company has also recently expanded its European presence, with new offices in Munich and Paris, alongside existing locations in cities such as Dublin, London, New York, Seattle, and Washington, DC.
OpenAI previously partnered with South Korean tech company Kakao to develop AI solutions tailored to the local market. As part of his trip to the region, Kwon is expected to meet with government representatives from both South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties to discuss future AI development and collaboration.
With input from Business Insider, Reuters, and Bloomberg.
