The South Korean government is partnering with major domestic companies, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor, to cultivate young talent. On June 17, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training announced the selection results for companies participating in the "K-New Deal Academy" and the operational support centers. The K-New Deal Academy aims to enhance the skills of young people and support their entry into the labor market by designing and operating job training programs tailored to specific industries led by large corporations.
This initiative is a key component of the "Youth New Deal Promotion Plan" announced in April. Amid worsening youth employment conditions, it is being recognized as a new model for supporting youth employment, where companies directly engage in education and recruitment.
A total of 107 companies applied for the program, and after evaluations by a youth verification panel and job experts, 53 companies (50 based on company count) and 72 academies were selected. Recruitment for trainees will begin later this month, with training programs set to roll out in July.
The selected companies include prominent firms in advanced industries such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, LG Chem, POSCO Talent Development Center, KT, Microsoft Korea, and Intel. In the finance sector, KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Financial Group, Woori Financial Group, and Hana Bank are participating, while cultural content companies like CJ ENM, HYBE, and SM Universe are also on the list.
Notably, numerous courses related to artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, smart factories, and digital transformation (DX) have been established. SK Hynix operates a semiconductor academy called "Hy-Po," while POSCO Talent Development Center offers courses in on-device AI-based industrial software development and smart factory AI assistant development. Samsung Electronics will run six courses, including those for electronic and IT manufacturing technicians, refrigeration and air conditioning technicians, and shipbuilding technicians.
A distinctive feature of this initiative is that, unlike traditional government-led vocational training, companies directly design the training programs and provide mentoring from current employees, project execution, and onboarding programs. This approach is expected to reduce the mismatch between education and hiring by focusing on the job competencies that companies actually need.
Support for local youth will also be strengthened. The government will provide additional support for academies established outside the capital region and offer monthly training allowances of up to 300,000 won for participants in the capital and up to 500,000 won for those in non-capital areas. Training periods will last for more than three months and involve over 400 hours of instruction.
Examples of selected programs include Doosan Robotics' collaborative robot-based business development course, Celltrion's practical training in the entire bio cycle, and CJ ENM's K-content storyteller training course. These programs go beyond simple job training to include mentoring from industry professionals, project execution, and pathways to industry entry.
With a focus on advanced industries centered around AI and semiconductors, as well as diverse sectors such as finance, bio, cultural content, construction, and manufacturing, the range of options for young people has significantly expanded. The government expects that this initiative will enable youth to gain job experience and skills in their desired fields without being overly concentrated in specific industries.
Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "In light of the recent challenges in youth employment, we have reaffirmed the commitment of companies to nurture young talent. We will continue to support the K-New Deal Academy to establish it as a new model for mutual growth between companies and youth."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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