OpenAI is heading to Seoul. The San Francisco–based AI company will officially launch its Korea office on September 10, marking its twelfth global branch and third in Asia.
The move underscores the company’s commitment to deepen its international footprint and signals just how crucial South Korea has become to OpenAI’s growth story.
The new Seoul office, located in the bustling Gangnam district, will be introduced during a press event where Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, is expected to outline the company’s vision for the Korean market.
OpenAI has been recruiting since May across six different fields and is building a local team of around 10 people. A Korea office head is also expected to be announced during the launch.
South Korea represents a uniquely important market for OpenAI. The country ranks second only to the United States in paid ChatGPT subscribers, and the service surpassed 10 million monthly active users in Korea as of May.
For a nation of just over 50 million people, those figures highlight the country’s outsized enthusiasm for AI tools—and the strategic value of a local presence.
The expansion to Seoul also places OpenAI in the heart of one of the world’s most wired societies, where superfast internet, early tech adoption, and an innovation-driven culture make it an ideal environment for AI adoption.
By establishing an office in Korea, OpenAI positions itself closer to some of its most engaged users and to a dynamic ecosystem of startups, enterprises, and policymakers shaping the region’s digital future.
With existing offices in the U.K., France, Germany, Japan, and Singapore, OpenAI’s footprint is becoming increasingly global.
But its decision to set up in South Korea signals more than geographic growth—it reflects the company’s recognition that AI is no longer just a Silicon Valley phenomenon. It’s a global movement, and Seoul has quickly emerged as one of its most passionate hubs.
