AI Training Available Nationwide... Customized Support for 25,000 SMEs

The government has begun building infrastructure to enable artificial intelligence (AI) training anywhere across the country.

On March 29, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that, together with the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, it had selected a total of 30 training support centers—comprising 10 "AI Training Expansion Centers for SMEs" and 20 "AI Specialized Joint Training Centers"—to increase access to AI training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in regions with insufficient infrastructure.

The AI Expansion Centers are responsible for developing AI training programs and cultivating specialized talent. Approximately 500 personnel, including private AI training coaches and dedicated staff from the Human Resources Development Service, will visit 25,000 SMEs directly to assess their situations and provide customized training. From the second week of April, about 200 private coaches will officially begin their activities, supporting the establishment of training roadmaps for each company and facilitating on-site training (S-OJT).

The AI Joint Training Centers will utilize infrastructure owned by large corporations and universities to provide free, AI-specialized education to SME workers. The training programs will be practice-oriented, tailored to regional strategic industries such as automotive, semiconductors, and biotechnology, and will focus on enhancing practical applicability, including developing predictive models for manufacturing defects and building data dashboards. In April, the level of AI transformation will be assessed for about 600 participating companies, and full-scale joint training will begin in May.

The government also plans to implement "package support" by linking AI training and solution support through inter-ministerial collaboration. A working group will be established with the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to jointly identify and consult with companies participating in AI voucher programs, smart factory initiatives, and industrial AI demonstration projects. Currently, a training demand survey is being conducted targeting approximately 7,200 companies.

In addition, the government will strengthen the connection between AI Expansion Centers and Joint Training Centers to match companies' training needs with appropriate education, and build a step-by-step support system ranging from basic skills development to the cultivation of core talent. The government also plans to discover and share exemplary cases of AI transformation by region and industry on a quarterly basis, and to hold a competition at the end of the year to encourage the spread of best practices.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon stated, "In an era where AI and humans collaborate, fostering talent capable of utilizing AI is essential," and added, "We will strengthen our support to ensure that regional SMEs are not left behind in the AI transformation process."

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