According to Microsoft’s *Work Trend Index 2026*, South Korean workers feel a stronger sense of "AI FOMO" than global counterparts, yet their workplaces lag in AI readiness. The report found that 78% of South Korean respondents expressed anxiety about falling behind if they fail to adapt quickly to AI, 13 percentage points higher than the global average of 65%. Among 11 countries surveyed, only Brazil (79%) reported a higher rate. However, only 16% of local workers agreed their organizations have a clear AI strategy aligned with leadership, compared to the global average of 26%. Japan (14%) was the only country with a lower preparedness rate. Microsoft attributed this to a "paradox of transition." Additionally, while 43% of South Korean respondents anticipated AI-driven innovation, only 7% reported receiving rewards for such efforts—half the global average of 13%. The report also noted that 31% of South Korean "frontier experts" and 22% of general respondents deliberately avoid AI for certain tasks to maintain skills, versus global figures of 43% and 30%, respectively.