Korea Wellness Report: 55.5% of Gen Z use AI for health, many for emotions

More than half of young adults in South Korea have used generative artificial intelligence (AI) for health questions, and over a third of those have turned to it for emotional or psychological support, according to the 2026 Korea Wellness Report released by KB Financial Group's Management Research Institute this week. Reports published on October 25 and 26, 2026 said 55.5 per cent of Gen Z respondents had used generative AI for health or medical purposes, the highest of any age group, and 37.1 per cent of those had used it for emotional counselling, compared with 12.6 per cent of baby boomers.

The findings capture a change many young people around the world will recognise: AI chatbots are becoming a first stop not only for symptoms but for feelings. Older respondents in the survey mostly used AI to look up physical symptoms, while younger ones were far more likely to use it to talk through stress, worry or low mood. The headline contrast, Gen Z turning to AI for emotional support and boomers for symptoms, is one that health workers and families are already discussing.

There are good reasons for caution. A chatbot can be available at any hour and feel easy to talk to, which helps explain its appeal to young people who may hesitate to see a counsellor. But general-purpose AI tools are not trained therapists, they can give wrong or unsuitable answers, and they cannot respond to an emergency the way a person can. The survey measures how people use these tools, not whether the help they got was good.

The report also points to a wider shift in what wellness means to the young: sleep, stress and mental health are rising up the list alongside fitness. The figure on obesity treatments, with 16.5 per cent of Gen Z respondents having used them, suggests that weight-loss medicines and treatments are also spreading among younger adults. Note that "Gen Z" in this survey covers only people aged 25 and over, because the youngest respondents were 25.

For Indian readers, Korea is often ahead in adopting digital habits, and AI chatbots are widely used by young Indians too. Anyone who needs mental health support in India can call Tele-MANAS, the government's free helpline, on 14416.

Short-term: The findings add to pressure on AI companies and health authorities to set clear limits and safety features for chatbots used in emotional conversations, and they give counsellors a picture of how young clients already seek help.

Long-term: If AI becomes a routine first step for mental health, health systems may need to link chatbots to real services, and young people will need guidance on when to move from an app to a professional.

Who is affected: young adults who use AI chatbots, mental health professionals, AI developers, and parents and educators thinking about how young people seek support.

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