South Korea’s generative artificial intelligence market is undergoing a noticeable shift. Claude, the AI service developed by Anthropic, is rapidly expanding its user base in the country, while market leader OpenAI’s ChatGPT and rival Google’s Gemini show signs of slowing momentum.
According to data released March 4 by mobile analytics firm IGAWorks’ Mobile Index, Claude recorded 268,727 monthly active users, or MAU, in February, up roughly 70% from 158,136 in January. It marked the first time Claude’s monthly user base in South Korea surpassed 200,000.
Claude maintained around 100,000 monthly users through the second half of last year before accelerating sharply in 2026. After crossing 150,000 MAU in January, the service added more than 110,000 users in a single month.
App installations also climbed rapidly. Claude logged 132,120 new downloads in February, more than triple January’s 42,701 installs. Industry observers attribute the spike to growing brand awareness and rising enterprise demand for generative AI tools.
Analysts say Claude’s positioning as a more conservative, accuracy-focused model has resonated particularly with developers and professionals. Public reports that the technology has been used in U.S. defense-related contexts have also bolstered perceptions of reliability, according to industry officials.
By contrast, ChatGPT continued to grow at a steadier pace. The service posted 14,463,987 MAU in February, an increase of about 160,000 from the prior month. New installations reached 835,493 in February, slightly higher than in January but below December’s 899,908 downloads.
Gemini showed softer performance. The service recorded 116,393 MAU in February, down from 123,647 a month earlier. New downloads edged lower to 381,620.
Other AI platforms are also facing headwinds. Perplexity AI reported 685,004 MAU in February, down from 731,318 in January, though new installs rose modestly to 66,604. SK Telecom’s A., branded locally as A-dot, saw MAU fall to 1,181,121 from 1,386,537 the previous month, while new installations declined to 58,247.
Industry executives caution that the generative AI sector remains highly volatile, with user preferences shifting quickly in response to product updates, pricing models and enterprise partnerships. Whether Claude’s recent surge represents a lasting realignment or a temporary swing in a fast-moving market remains unclear.
