South Koreans cut streaming spending as AI subscriptions rise

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South Korean consumers are increasingly prioritizing paid artificial intelligence services over entertainment subscriptions, with AI now accounting for 60 percent of their monthly…

South Korean consumers are increasingly prioritizing paid artificial intelligence services over entertainment subscriptions, with AI now accounting for 60 percent of their monthly digital subscription spending, according to a new analysis of credit card transactions.

A 38-year-old office worker surnamed Lee recently canceled a webtoon subscription after signing up for a paid AI service, deciding that the technology was more essential to his work than digital comics.

“Monthly subscription fees are becoming a burden, so I’m narrowing them down to the services I use most frequently,” Lee said.

According to data released on Monday by Shinhan Card’s Big Data research center, consumers using recurring payment services for apartment maintenance fees, city gas and electricity spent an average of 383,600 won ($281) per person each month during the first nine months of 2026.

Customers subscribing to digital services, including AI platforms, over-the-top (OTT) streaming services and retail membership programs, spent an average of 35,500 won per month.

Adding the two averages yields 419,100 won in monthly recurring expenses, illustrating the growing financial burden of regular payments for utilities, housing-related charges and digital services.

AI accounted for the largest share of digital subscription spending, averaging 21,300 won per month, or 60 percent of the total.

OTT streaming services accounted for 10,300 won, or 29 percent, while retail memberships represented 3,900 won, or 11 percent.

Consumers therefore spent more on AI subscriptions than on streaming services and retail memberships combined.

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