South Korea ranks 10th globally in digital and AI competitiveness, up eight places in a year

[Financial News] South Korea ranked 10th globally in digital and artificial intelligence (AI) competitiveness. That was an eight-place rise from last year’s assessment, led by its third-place rankings in both technical infrastructure and efficiency. However, it remained relatively low in governance and talent development, leaving institutional reform and talent recruitment as challenges.
According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 11th, South Korea ranked 10th among 70 countries in the 2026 World Digital and AI Competitiveness (WDAIR) assessment released by Switzerland’s International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Among the 32 countries with populations of 20 million or more, it ranked fourth, behind the United States, Canada and China.
Starting this year, IMD revamped its existing World Digital Competitiveness (WDCR) assessment as the World Digital and AI Competitiveness assessment. Country rankings under the new criteria were applied retroactively through 2022.
By country, the United States, which ranked fourth last year, rose to first, while Canada, last year’s top-ranked country, fell to fifth. In the Asia-Pacific region, Singapore ranked highest at second place. China ranked seventh and Japan 19th.
South Korea improved its ranking from last year in all five areas of this assessment: governance, technical infrastructure, efficiency, talent development, and values and attitudes.
In technical infrastructure, South Korea rose four places, from seventh last year to third this year. It maintained its global lead in total research and development (R&D) spending as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), and ranked eighth on the AI research paper indicator. The ease of securing venture capital improved from 46th to 35th.
In efficiency, South Korea jumped 10 places, from 13th to third. It ranked eighth on the newly introduced AI adoption index and 18th on the indicator for implementation of national AI strategies. Corporate agility rose sharply from 46th last year to 20th this year.
In governance, South Korea rose seven places, from 34th to 27th. It ranked first globally on the newly introduced Government Core Systems Index. Public-private partnerships supporting technological development improved from 59th to 35th, while legislated AI policies rose from 32nd to 30th.


In talent development, South Korea rose four places, from 24th last year to 20th this year. It ranked eighth on the AI preparedness index and 12th on the AI education index, both newly added to the assessment. Its ranking on the indicator for attracting highly skilled talent from overseas also rose 17 places, from 61st to 44th. However, its overall ranking in talent development remained below those in technical infrastructure and efficiency, pointing to the need to strengthen its competitiveness in AI talent.
In values and attitudes, South Korea rose three places, from 19th to 16th. It ranked 10th on the public trust in AI indicator and 25th on the indicator measuring companies’ understanding of AI security risks. Flexibility and adaptability in the face of new challenges improved from 33rd to 26th.
The government plans to continue strengthening competitiveness in digital and AI based on the assessment results. In particular, it intends to focus on building competitiveness across a range of areas, including not only technical infrastructure but also policy, talent and public trust.
Lee Do-gyu, head of the Information and Communications Policy Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, “The eight-place rise in the digital and AI competitiveness assessment from the previous year reflects both our country’s strong resilience and the government’s commitment to artificial intelligence. We will continue to implement key digital and AI policies without disruption, including the 3 Major Mega-Projects and Seven SEED Projects, and keep improving our digital and AI competitiveness.”
[email protected] Yoon Hong-jip Reporter