The illustration shows the ChatGPT logo, a keyboard, and robot hands, January 27. Reuters-Yonhap

The number of users of generative artificial intelligence (AI) services in Korea nearly doubled from a year earlier in 2024, government data showed Sunday.

In a survey on internet usage conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the rate of respondents who experienced generative AI services jumped to 33.3 percent last year from 17.6 percent a year ago.

The outcome means 1 out of 3 internet users here have experienced generative AI services, such as ChatGPT, the AI chatbot created by U.S.-based OpenAI.

Nearly 82 percent of the users looked up generative AI service for information research, while 44 percent of them used such services for assistance in paperwork and 40 percent for foreign language translation, the survey showed.

About 98 percent of the users responded they use instant messaging services, with KakaoTalk overwhelming other services.

More than 95 percent of the users said they used online video platform YouTube.

Overseas direct purchases by internet shopping customers jumped to 34 percent last year from the previous year's 20 percent following the advance of Chinese e-commerce platforms, including AliExpress and Temu, to the Korean market.

The survey was conducted on 60,229 family members from 25,509 households across the country, the ministry said. (Yonhap)