Trend Korea 2026: Balancing Technology and Humanity

Since 2008, Seoul National University Professor Emeritus Kim Nan-do, Korea’s leading consumer trend researcher and author of the annual Trend Korea series, has forecast the year’s consumer patterns. For 2026, he identified “AI” and “humanity” as the defining keywords.

The report highlights ten key terms: Human-in-the-Loop, Philconomy, Zero-Click, Ready-Core, AX Organization, Pixel Life, Price Decoding, Health Quotient (HQ), 1.5 Households, and Fundamentalism. Some reflect the growing influence of AI, while others emphasize emotion, tradition, and essential values.

In particular, while AI dominates every sector, keywords such as “Zero-Click” and “AX Organization” demonstrate its direct technological impact. Meanwhile, “Philconomy” and “Fundamentalism” represent a trend toward prioritizing human-centered and fundamental values.

Professor Kim stressed that “as AI advances, human involvement, emotion, and traditional values become increasingly important,” emphasizing that 2026 will be a consumer era where technology and humanity coexist.