Lee Geum-ryong, chairman of Koglo.com, stated that "all companies will be restructured around AI" and emphasized that this change presents an opportunity for the AI native generation to lead the "growth ladder" rather than a crisis.
Speaking at the 18th Good Growth, Good Jobs Forum (2026 GGGF) held at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on September 2, Lee remarked, "It is the mission of the current privileged class to enable the AI native generation to become the main players in the growth ladder."
He explained that the shift in corporate environments due to AI adoption began in earnest following the Fourth Industrial Revolution declaration at the 2016 Davos Forum and the AlphaGo shock. He identified hyper-connectivity, super-intelligence, automation, and autonomy as key features of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, citing population decline as one of the underlying factors.
Lee noted, "With the emergence of agentic AI, the introduction of AX is accelerating across all sectors in South Korea," and added that the principle of placing personnel is shifting from "right person in the right place" to "right place for the right person."
He warned that interest in AI development may overshadow employment, suggesting that hiring could decrease over the next five years. He described AI agents as permanent employees without retirement, stating, "Many tasks will be handled by agentic AI, leaving only managers for initial checks and directors for overall planning."
Lee assessed that as the acceleration of AI transformation continues, relying solely on existing companies to expand hiring will not resolve youth employment issues. He explained that new jobs must ultimately be created in startups and new industries as companies focus on organizational efficiency through AI.
He stated, "It is impossible to ask existing large corporations or public institutions to hire more people in the AI era," emphasizing that new companies must emerge to absorb jobs.
As existing companies reduce their hiring capacity, he stressed the need for new industries and businesses to create jobs, asserting, "Whether in the form of startups or new enterprises, new companies must emerge to embrace young talent and grow alongside them."
Lee highlighted that the current restructuring of corporate structures around AI could present an opportunity for industrial transformation. He stated, "All companies will be restructured around AI," and noted that the new generation emerging from universities is AI native, thus companies must also be horizontally restructured around AI.
He remarked, "This is a great opportunity for South Korea, which has grown centered on manufacturing for the past 60 years, to transform," adding that a generational change to a new AI generation could usher in a new era, including youth employment.
Ultimately, Lee viewed the AI transition as both a crisis that reduces existing jobs and an opportunity for new companies and industries to emerge. He emphasized, "It is the role of the older generation to enable the AI native generation to grow and become the main players in the growth ladder."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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