YouTube is the mobile app most used by South Koreans over 2025, the data showed. ChatGPT, which led the generative AI boom, ranked No. 1 in new installs and showed explosive growth.

On Jan. 8, IGAWorks Mobile Index released a report titled "2025 South Korea Mobile App Rankings" using its data analysis solution.

According to the report, YouTube's monthly active users (MAU) stood at 48.13 million as of last December, ranking No. 1 among all apps. This means most smartphone users in South Korea use YouTube. KakaoTalk ranked second with 46.35 million, followed by Naver with 44.94 million, Google with 41.28 million and Google Chrome with 39.43 million.

By sector, YouTube led entertainment, far ahead of Netflix with 14.44 million. In social networking, KakaoTalk secured nearly twice as many users as Instagram with 24.11 million. In shopping, Coupang ranked first with 33.71 million, ahead of second-place Karrot with 19.15 million. In food and beverages, Baedal Minjok led with 22.60 million, ahead of Coupang Eats with 11.36 million. In finance and fashion, Toss and Musinsa ranked first, respectively.

The app showing the most striking growth is ChatGPT. Its users surged 341 percent in December from January last year. It also ranked No. 1 in new installs with 16.57 million. That far exceeded the 12.81 million for second-place Digital Onnuri and 11.52 million for third-place Temu.

Chinese e-commerce apps also continued their push. Temu ranked third in new installs, and AliExpress ranked 22nd, expanding its influence in the South Korean market. TikTok Lite also made the top six after driving 8.03 million new installs.