[The Editors' Verdict] Let's Get Semiconductor and Software Talent Training Right This Time

[Asia Economy Reporter Myung Jin-kyu] The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has announced plans to train 100,000 semiconductor and 1 million software professionals. Expectations among related companies are high. Every time the government changes, these industries are hailed as "core industries," but the atmosphere of "let companies handle it themselves" has prevailed. This time, there is hope that things might be different.

The Park Geun-hye administration consistently emphasized the need to cultivate advanced semiconductor talent to realize a "creative economy," but since Korea's semiconductor industry had reached a global level, the policy stance was that companies themselves should nurture talent rather than relying on government support. As a result, the government's semiconductor R&D budget shrank from 56.1 billion KRW in 2015 to 35.6 billion KRW in 2016, and was cut to zero in 2017. With the disappearance of R&D funding, semiconductor-related university professors began to dwindle. Now, there is a shortage of instructors.

The Moon Jae-in administration was no different. Although it set the realization of a software powerhouse as a key pledge, the "Five-Year National Plan" did not include support policies for software companies. After Japan's export restrictions on semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang), the government called for self-reliance and designated these as core industries, but the finished semiconductor products were left to major companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to handle on their own.

In May last year, near the end of its term, the administration announced the "K Semiconductor Strategy," pledging to train 36,000 semiconductor professionals over ten years, but it did not include the expansion of semiconductor department quotas at universities in the Seoul metropolitan area, as requested by major companies. The reason given was that it would contradict the national balanced development agenda. The Special Act on National Advanced Strategic Industries (Semiconductor Special Act), created to intensively foster semiconductors, did not reflect any of the semiconductor industry's demands, such as exemption from the 52-hour workweek for R&D personnel, relaxation of chemical substance registration standards, easing of factory site regulations, or up to 50% tax credit on facility investment costs.

While the government's plan to actively train the insufficient workforce is certainly welcome, there is an overlooked aspect. While quantitative shortages must be addressed, resolving qualitative shortages requires a more fundamental commitment to problem-solving. Netflix founder Reed Hastings shares an anecdote with Bill Gates in his book "No Rules." Hastings said, "I didn't realize before, but now I see that the difference between a top-tier and an average programmer is more than tenfold, and I don't know whether to hire one top-tier person or ten average ones." Bill Gates responded, "It's not tenfold, it's probably a hundredfold." Hastings called this the "Rockstar Principle."

So how can geniuses, often called "S-class talents," be cultivated? Anders Ericsson, a psychology professor at Florida State University, argued in his book "The Cambridge Handbook," which compiles research on geniuses, that "geniuses are made, not born." He analyzed that great scientists are made up of 1% inspiration (talent), 70% effort, and 29% environment. According to the Cambridge Handbook, the IQ of individuals who have achieved great success in arts and sciences ranges from 115 to 130, representing about 14% of the population. This is above average but not necessarily innate genius.

Effort depends most on self-motivation, which ultimately stems from the surrounding environment. The environment is shaped by a societal atmosphere that prioritizes talent cultivation and national-level educational and policy support. Professor Ericsson added a crucial point at the end of his book: "Most geniuses inherit the creative thinking of excellent mentors." While training 100,000 or 1 million professionals is important, nurturing mentors who can produce S-class talents and creating a virtuous cycle in education is the most critical task.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.