OpenAI is launching its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy in the Korean market by appointing former Google Korea President Kim Kyung-hoon as its first CEO.

CEO Kim, a manager with over 20 years of experience leading strategy and innovation in the global IT and consulting industries, will oversee OpenAI's technology expansion and industrial cooperation in Korea.

This appointment comes in response to the rapidly growing domestic demand for OpenAI technologies, including ChatGPT. In fact, ChatGPT's weekly active users in Korea have more than quadrupled compared to last year, demonstrating Korea's emergence as a global hub for AI adoption and utilization.

CEO Kim Kyung-hoon served as President of Google Korea from 2021 until recently, leading the growth of the advertising business and organizational operations. He has also contributed to strengthening the domestic digital ecosystem through developer and startup support programs. Previously, he served as Head of Google Marketing Solutions Korea and Head of Strategy and Operations for Asia Pacific (APAC), where he led the mobile and search advertising sectors. At Bain & Company's Seoul office, he worked on strategic projects in the ICT, consumer goods, and manufacturing sectors.

CEO Kim, who graduated from Seoul National University's Department of Computer Science and Engineering and received an MBA from Duke University in the United States, also serves as a member of the AMCHAM Korea Board of Directors and has actively participated in policy cooperation for the development of the ICT, cybersecurity, and content industries.

“Korea is one of the fastest adopters of AI in the world, and CEO Kim Kyung-hoon is the right person to lead innovation within this opportunity,” said Oliver Jay, OpenAI’s head of international business. “With his extensive experience and leadership, OpenAI Korea will play a key role in accelerating the AI transformation by expanding Korea’s AI ecosystem and further strengthening its position as a global innovation hub.”

CEO Kim stated, “By combining Korea’s innovative capabilities with OpenAI’s technology, we will contribute to Korea’s establishment as a global leader in AI.” He added, “As the use of ChatGPT and the OpenAI API platform is rapidly increasing, we will work closely with industry, the developer community, academia, and the government to present a responsible AI utilization model and create positive and sustainable changes throughout Korean society.”