KyoungHoon Harrison Kim, CEO of OpenAI Korea: "We Will Be the Optimal Partner for Korean Companies’ AI Transformation"

[Financial News] “AI is still in its early stages. Rather than focusing on which model is currently leading, it is more important to stay on course with OpenAI’s roadmap. Our strategy is to accelerate AI development by working closely with OpenAI’s partners,” Kim stated.
On the 4th, OpenAI Korea held a press conference at The Westin Josun Seoul, announcing plans to actively support Korean companies in transitioning to AI.
This event marked Kim’s first press conference since his appointment as CEO, coinciding with the third anniversary of ChatGPT. The session covered the current state of AI adoption, strategies for enterprise-driven AI transformation, and tangible outcomes. Kim emphasized the importance of the corporate sector in maximizing the value OpenAI delivers, highlighting a strong commitment to targeting the B2B market.
Kim noted, “The economic and social benefits brought by new technologies will be significant. While individuals are important, companies are essential to creating greater economic impact.”
According to OpenAI, ChatGPT usage has grown rapidly over the past three years. Globally, daily ChatGPT messages increased from 450 million in June 2023 to 2.63 billion in June 2024, nearly a sixfold rise. Among global users, the most common use cases for ChatGPT were practical advice—such as fitness, health, daily life information, learning tips, and creative ideas—accounting for about 29%. Information search followed at 24%.
In Korea, ChatGPT is used more prominently for work-related purposes. About 29% of users utilize it for tasks such as document or contract translation, and drafting documents or emails. Another 21% request advice on how to accomplish specific tasks.
Recently, the use of 'Sora', an AI tool for generating videos from text, has also surged. Kim remarked, “Seoul ranks first among global cities in Sora usage. I understand that much of video production is now handled by AI tools. Next year, we plan to expand into areas such as gaming and advertising platforms.”
Kim explained that the widespread adoption of AI in daily life and the unique usage patterns in Korea provide a strong foundation for accelerating enterprise AI transformation. Over 800 million people worldwide use ChatGPT weekly, experiencing the benefits of AI firsthand. As employees become more familiar with ChatGPT, the pilot period for ChatGPT Enterprise within companies can be shortened, enabling a faster transition to AI.
Kim emphasized, “Since most economically valuable work happens within companies, the positive economic impact of AI will be realized most significantly through enterprise AI transformation. OpenAI Korea aims to become the optimal partner for Korean companies making this transition.”
The press conference also featured representatives from GS Engineering & Construction and LG Uplus, who shared real-world examples of AI adoption in their organizations. GS Engineering & Construction is driving workplace innovation by deploying ChatGPT Enterprise to its employees, while LG Uplus will introduce the Agentic Callbot Standard, powered by OpenAI technology, on the 16th. The company also plans to launch Agentic Callbot Pro in the first half of next year.


yjjoe@fnnews.com Jo Yoon-joo Reporter