OpenAI has published a South Korea economic blueprint that argues for a simple idea with big consequences: build sovereign AI capabilities at home while partnering deeply with frontier AI providers. If Korea pairs its chip strength, networks, and talent with reliable access to top models and infrastructure, the payoff could show up in productivity, exports, and a broader AI ecosystem. Below we unpack the paper, translate it into seven concrete steps, and show what it means for businesses, policymakers, and universities.

What is OpenAI’s South Korea economic blueprint?

The quick take. The 27-page paper lays out how Korea can speed AI deployment: expand compute at home, secure partnerships with frontier developers, tighten data governance, and spread adoption beyond large conglomerates. The throughline is “sovereign + global” rather than either/or.

Why now. Korea is already an AI heavyweight in chips and connectivity, but adoption and compute access are uneven. The blueprint arrives as the government readies its AI Basic Act for 2026 enforcement and as Samsung, SK and OpenAI deepen ties under Stargate.

Who it’s for. Policymakers shaping sandboxes and procurement, chaebols planning data centers and rollouts, SMEs looking to boost productivity, and universities building AI pipelines.

The core idea: pair “sovereign AI” with global collaboration

Sovereign in practice. Sovereign AI is the ability to control data, infrastructure, and deployment choices. In Korea, that translates into local compute, strong data governance, and the freedom to choose best-in-class models, including frontier systems developed abroad.

A two-track model. The paper and local coverage describe a dual track: build domestic capacity and governance while forging ties to frontier providers so Korean firms are never locked out of top models. Media summaries call out this “two-track” phrasing explicitly.

How law and governance fit. Korea’s AI Basic Act was promulgated in January 2025 and takes effect January 2026. It establishes a national “control tower,” an AI safety institute, and rules for providers operating in Korea. The National AI Strategy Committee was elevated by decree in September 2025 to coordinate across ministries. These set the policy rails for the blueprint’s recommendations.

7 bold steps in the blueprint (and what to do this year)

Build and operate frontier-grade infrastructure at home.

Korea should accelerate domestic data center capacity that can run and fine-tune frontier models, with attention to power, cooling, and reliability. Public-private partnerships can move faster than standalone government builds.

Secure compute and memory capacity to cut GPU bottlenecks.

The paper highlights capacity constraints. Korea’s chip leaders can help by scaling memory production and supporting AI facilities locally. Pair this with transparent allocation frameworks so SMEs can access compute, not just large groups.

Expand public-private partnerships for faster diffusion.

Use MOUs and co-investment to roll models into priority sectors like manufacturing, tourism, and healthcare, drawing on examples such as the UK and Singapore partnerships cited in the blueprint.

Standardize safe deployment practices and sandboxes.

Adopt staged rollouts with rollback options, standardized testing, and real-time monitoring. Regulatory sandboxes help agencies and firms share what works and reduce duplicated effort.

Upgrade data governance for high-value cross-sector use.

Streamline access to public and private datasets with clear consent, auditing, and retention policies, so models can learn from real-world Korean data without compromising trust.

Upskill the workforce and fund SME pilots.

Subsidize hands-on pilots, not only classroom training. Tie grants to measurable process improvements in targeted workflows. Capture and publish the wins to speed diffusion.

Measure AI productivity and diffusion.

Track adoption, model performance, and economic impact by sector. Publish dashboards quarterly to guide incentives and procurement.

Korea’s semiconductor edge meets Stargate: what changes now

OpenAI, Samsung, and SK announced strategic partnerships on October 1, 2025 as part of Stargate, aimed at expanding global AI infrastructure, including in Korea. The blueprint references this context directly. Samsung and SK will scale advanced memory production and collaborate on data center capacity. SK Telecom will explore an AI data center in Korea.

One figure stands out in the blueprint: plans to target 900,000 DRAM wafer starts per month to support frontier models. If realized, that kind of memory throughput would ease bottlenecks for training and inference at scale. For startups, it could mean better access to compute and lower latency for on-shore workloads.

Compare: Korea vs Japan blueprints

Shared themes. Both emphasize compute access, public-private partnerships, and responsible deployment of frontier models.

Where Korea may go further. Korea leans into domestic chip capacity and a sovereign + global track built on active partnerships already in motion with Samsung, SK and telcos. Japan’s blueprint stresses productivity in services and regional revitalization, while Korea’s adds a clearer path to infrastructure scaling through chaebol partnerships.

Implications for foreign firms. Expect local-rep requirements, safety guardrails, and sandboxes under the AI Basic Act framework. Align with MSIT and the Strategy Committee for compliant deployments.

Risks, limits, and what to watch

• Power and energy planning. Scaling data centers demands stable power and cooling; site planning decisions will shape cost curves.
• Policy consistency. Implementation requires steady leadership through 2026 as the Basic Act takes effect.
• Global supply chains. Memory scaling timelines, export controls, and rival demand could tighten component availability.

How Korean SMEs can start in 30-60-90 days

Day 0-30: pick 2 workflows with repetitive text or tabular analysis; export sample data; define success metrics.
Day 31-60: pilot a frontier model via a partner; add a lightweight safety checklist (input filters, logging, red-team prompts); measure time saved.
Day 61-90: expand to a second team; stand up a small retrieval store; draft a one-page data handling policy; present ROI.

Comparison Table

The Bottom Line

OpenAI’s blueprint suggests Korea can unlock large AI gains by combining sovereign infrastructure with deep global partnerships, especially through chip and data-center capacity. The near-term priority is compute at home, safe deployment standards, and SME pilots that show measurable wins, not just big promises.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Korea facing a compute bottleneck for AI?
Yes. The blueprint flags GPU and compute constraints that limit adoption speed, which partnerships and new data centers aim to address.

What sectors are likely early beneficiaries?
Manufacturing, telecom, public services, and tourism are called out via global examples and Korean partnerships linked to infrastructure expansion.

How does this differ from the EU’s approach?
Korea’s AI Basic Act takes effect in 2026 and focuses on risk-based rules, national coordination, and enabling innovation via sandboxes. The blueprint builds on that with a sovereign-plus-global model.

Will SMEs get access to compute?
That is the goal. The paper argues for transparent allocation and partnerships to avoid concentration solely in large groups.

What is Stargate in simple terms?
OpenAI’s umbrella program for building frontier-scale AI infrastructure with partners. The Korea context includes memory scaling and data center exploration.

Why does wafer-starts/month matter?
Memory capacity determines how fast large models can train and run. The blueprint references a target of 900k DRAM wafer starts per month to meet demand from frontier models.

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