Anthropic's AI assistant Claude has overtaken Google Gemini to become the second highest-grossing generative AI app in South Korea, trailing only OpenAI's ChatGPT. This shift signals a strong willingness among local professionals to pay for advanced AI capabilities, particularly in desktop work environments.
Revenue growth drives market shift
According to data from market research firm Sensor Tower, Claude ranked first in sales growth rate among iPhone users in South Korea this year. The service hit a daily sales record of $104,000 on May 5, more than doubling the previous day's total. This revenue jump stems from existing users upgrading to higher-tier subscriptions rather than an increase in new downloads.
A tech industry source explained the behavior, noting that developers are hitting usage limits. "Claude's superior coding capabilities have gained attention, but the monthly usage allowance under its subscription plans is insufficient, leading many developers to switch to the $220 monthly 'Max 20x' plan," the source said.
South Korea emerges as a key market
The United States remains Claude's largest market, accounting for 41.1% of global sales. South Korea ranks second globally at 4.7%, outpacing Japan, which is the secondary market for both ChatGPT and Gemini. Recognizing this traction, Anthropic established a local subsidiary last year and recently appointed former Snowflake Korea head Choi Ki-young to lead its South Korean branch ahead of a Seoul office opening.
Anthropic has also released new models this year, including Opus 4.8, Mythos Preview, and Fable 5. The company's current market valuation of $965 billion now exceeds OpenAI's $852 billion.
Desktop usage outpaces mobile growth
Claude's website recorded higher visitor growth than ChatGPT and Gemini between March and May. Approximately 58.8% of Claude users access the service via a web browser. This suggests professionals are integrating the assistant into PC-based workflows to handle complex productivity tasks. Sales teams looking to optimize their own workflows can explore AI for Sales to understand how similar desktop-first tools are being applied to revenue operations.
Why this matters for sales professionals
The strong adoption of high-tier AI subscriptions in South Korea indicates a market ready to pay for tools that directly improve output. If developers are willing to spend $220 a month for advanced capabilities, sales teams must evaluate whether their current AI tool stack is delivering commensurate value. Professionals can assess their own AI readiness through an AI Learning Path for Sales Representatives to ensure they are using the right platforms for prospecting and client communication.
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