Artificial intelligence is rapidly transitioning from a "tech novelty" to an essential daily need for South Koreans. AIbase learned that according to the latest data, monthly subscription spending on AI services by Korean users has officially exceededNetflix. As of December 2025, the total monthly payments for the seven major AI services in South Korea, including ChatGPT and Gemini, are estimated to have reached 80.3 billion KRW (approximately 55 to 60 million USD), surpassing Netflix's average monthly revenue of 75 billion KRW in the country.

This explosive growth is particularly evident in transaction frequency. AIbase found that credit card transaction volume for AI services surged from just 52,000 in early 2024 to 166 million by the end of 2025. In terms of spending composition, individual users pay about 34,700 KRW (around 24 USD) per month for AI, while enterprise users spend as much as 107,400 KRW (about 74 USD). Although AI services cover both enterprise and personal markets, their significance in the subscription economy is self-evident.

In terms of market share,ChatGPT continues to demonstrate absolute dominance, accounting for 71.5% of total payments. Following closely are Google'sGemini (11%) and Anthropic'sClaude (10.7%). Experts analyze that generative AI is becoming a new favorite in South Korea's subscription market, and this growth trend will continue as its tool attributes improve.

Key Points:

  • 📈 Surpassing the Leader: By the end of 2025, the total monthly subscription spending on AI in South Korea reached 80.3 billion KRW, officially exceedingNetflix's average monthly revenue in the country.

  • 💳 Spike in Payments: Credit card transaction volume for AI services grew exponentially within two years, with individual users averaging around 24 USD per month in spending.

  • 🥇 Three-way Competition:ChatGPT leads with over 70% of the market share, while Gemini and Claude compete fiercely in the second tier.