South Korea to train 10,000 AI specialists via K-Digital Training

South Korea's Minister of Employment and Labor, Kim Young-hoon, announced plans to train 10,000 practical AI specialists through the ‘K-Digital Training’ program. This initiative, utilizing the ‘National Tomorrow Learning Card’, aims to prepare a workforce capable of immediate field deployment in response to the industrial shifts caused by artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the 14th ASEAN+3 Labor Ministers Meeting in Bangkok, Minister Kim introduced South Korea’s ‘Industrial Transition with Labor’ policy. The strategy includes monitoring employment impacts, strengthening lifelong learning, and providing specialized retraining for middle-aged workers. The government also highlighted its online Smart Vocational Training Platform (STEP) to enhance AI capabilities across various sectors like design, mechanics, and electricity.

The meeting participants adopted a joint declaration to strengthen cooperation in human resource development, green and digital skills, and inclusive social security systems. During the summit, Minister Kim held bilateral meetings with labor officials from Thailand and Japan, as well as the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), to discuss employment policies and social dialogue.