Through ten keywords defining 2026, Professor Kim Nan-do clearly and accessibly unpacks the harmony between AI and humans, shifts in consumption patterns, and emerging currents in organizations and lifestyles. Each keyword connects closely to everyday life in ways anyone can relate to, offering insights essential for preparing for tomorrow's society and business. The message to rediscover human values — embodied in the idea of "your own 78th move" — is particularly striking.

1. Overall Structure and the Sweeping Tide: The 2026 Trends Inspired by the Power of the Horse

2026 is the Year of the Red Horse (병오년). Professor Kim explains that this year's trend keywords were inspired by 'horsepower' — the raw energy of the horse. Just as a horse is fast and mighty, society is gaining stronger execution and momentum. Emerging from this context is 'Centaurus' — a hybrid being that combines AI and humanity. In the professor's words, "the lower body uses AI for efficiency and power, while the upper body retains human emotion and wisdom" — a figure that perfectly captures the vision of the future.

"As we begin to use artificial intelligence, we — like centaurs — can become stronger as human beings."

In this way, the ten keywords of 2026 are organized around a central axis: the action of AI, the reaction of humanity, and the interaction and synthesis of the two.

2. Human-in-the-Loop: The Healthiest Coexistence of AI and Humans

AI is now involved in much of our work, but finding the right balance point matters most. Professor Kim identifies three models of human–AI collaboration:

• AI in the Loop: Humans lead, with AI used only minimally
• Human on the Loop: AI handles most tasks, with humans reviewing the results
• Human out of the Loop: AI processes everything with no human involvement

The model currently seen as most desirable is 'Human-in-the-Loop' — humans remain in charge, actively leveraging AI, while the final fact-checking and refinement are handled by people.

"Harvard research shows that highly skilled people perform even better when they use AI, while less capable people who over-rely on AI actually produce worse outcomes."

Citing a real case involving an overseas newspaper that suffered AI 'hallucination' issues, Professor Kim drives home the message: "Over-trusting AI can lead to serious mistakes — human verification is absolutely necessary."

3. Feelconomy: Your Mood Moves the Economy

Starting from an everyday scenario — "I was taking an MBTI test, felt bad, and bought bread!" — Professor Kim highlights how modern consumers make decisions that are immediate and emotionally driven. He names this new trend Feelconomy (Feel + Economy).

"We've moved from an era where rationality ruled to one where 'how I feel' opens the wallet."

• Our moods are so complex that even we ourselves don't fully understand them, yet smart devices and digital services are already measuring those moods.
• Simple consumption to lift a bad mood — food, shopping, and so on — has increased.
• More broadly, spending money on experiences that make you feel better has become the dominant behavior.

The takeaway: "Half of every trend moves with the mood!"

4. Zero Click: An Economy Without Clicks — AI Searches So You Don't Have To

In the past, finding what you wanted required multiple clicks through search results. Now AI recommends the right answer right on the first screen. This click-free world is already reshaping marketing, distribution, shopping, and business at large.

"It's no longer about brand — now it's really about product quality. AI clicks and recommends on behalf of the customer!"

In other words, an era is arriving where "genuinely great products" will be noticed over mere name value.

5. Ready-Core: The Power of Preparation as Life's Essence

Just like the line from the film Parasite — "Son, you had a plan all along" — there is a rapidly growing generation that prepares for everything meticulously. Life planning spreadsheets in Notion and Excel, advance preparation for marriage, childbirth, homeownership, and certifications have all become the norm.

"Getting ahead of the curriculum is no longer just for students — it has become a natural habit for every generation."

This is the idea behind the keyword Ready-Core: 'preparation (ready)' has become the 'core' of life itself.

6. AX Organizations (AI Transformation): AI Reshapes Organizational Culture

Going beyond DX (digital transformation), we have now entered the era of AX (AI transformation) — where AI fundamentally rewires how organizations are structured.

• Departmental boundaries and hierarchical structures are breaking down, as everyone collaborates flexibly alongside AI.
• Work flows freely across different departments and projects, like improvised jazz (jamming).
• The cycle of learn → unlearn → re-learn is now the core of organizational survival!

"It's no longer about your title — what matters more is how you work together with AI."

7. Pixel Life: Small, Varied, and Fast

Modern trends are like pixels: small, diverse, and generated and replaced at extraordinary speed. Consumption patterns have shifted toward small quantities and wide variety over bulk purchases, with a preference for short, frequently rotating experiences.

"Now, having no trend is the trend. It's not about one big hit — it's an era of seizing endless small opportunities!"

8. Price Decoding: Consumers Decode the Price Structure

Pricing is no longer up to the seller alone. Consumers now dissect price composition — raw cost, brand premium, distribution margins — and only recognize value they feel is worth paying for. Even 'value for money' has evolved beyond simply being cheap, into a Value-for-Money 2.0 era, where consumers want premium-level quality at a reasonable price.

"If you want to go fast, send the product alone. If you want to go far, go with the brand." "Even without a brand name, if the quality is genuinely good, consumers will choose the dupe (non-branded alternative)!"

9. Health Quotient (HQ): Managing Health Intelligently

Health management has also entered a smarter era — the age of the Health Quotient (HQ).

1. Science-based, data-driven health management (blood sugar, peak values, nutritional content, etc.)
2. Prevention first (proactive management before problems arise)
3. Holistic management spanning body, mind, and lifestyle

"From young children to the elderly — health is now truly everyone's concern!"

The medical and health-information content industry is also seeing enormous growth!

10. The 1.5 Household: A New Lifestyle of Independence Plus Solidarity

In the gap between traditional single-person and family households, a new concept has emerged: the '1.5 household'.

• Living alone but relying on psychological or financial support from others (support-dependent type)
• Multiple people living together, each maintaining strict independence (independence-oriented type)
• Personal space guaranteed, while community amenities and facilities are shared (facility-sharing type)

"The rational choice of modern people who are lonely, want independence, yet don't want to be completely isolated!"

11. Geunboanism (Fundamentalism): A Trend Toward Essence, the Original, and the Classic

In an era overflowing with AI and digital content, people are paradoxically finding themselves drawn to the truly 'foundational' — origins, things that have survived history, the original, tradition — fundamental values.

The craze for National Museum of Korea merchandise, the popularity of retro reissues of vintage appliances, the revival of classical music, classic novels, and analog products!

"Anemoia — nostalgia for an era you never personally lived through."

"The more a world overflows with AI-generated fakes, the stronger the desire to seek out genuinely foundational, unchanging values!"

Closing

The trends of 2026 reveal a powerful undercurrent: "balance between AI and humans," "rational shifts in consumption and lifestyle," and amid a rapidly changing era, a renewed questioning of what is essential in one's own life. Professor Kim closes the video with the message that each of us must discover "our own 78th move — the uniquely creative and essential strength that only a human being can make."

"As we enter 2026, we find ourselves asking: what is my own 78th move?" 🚀 "I hope you'll find the answer in Trend Korea 2026!"