In line with efforts to improve its digital economy, South Korea has announced plans to equip its citizens with skills in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and blockchain technology.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) said the plan to introduce digital skills will be for a period of five years and aims to deepen the talent pool. The “Comprehensive Plan to Nurture Digital Talent” is South Korea’s trump card to catch up with other competing jurisdictions in emerging technologies.
Currently, South Korea has approximately 99,000 people with digital skills, but several researchers predict a spike in demand for digital talent. It is expected that the demand for employees with digital talent will rise to 738,000 in various industries within five years.
While there are several options available to South Korean drivers, including opening the floodgates to foreigners to meet demand, the government says it will look inward to meet rising demand.
Educating 1 million people is no small feat, but the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT has started the ball rolling with a blueprint. The government says it will begin reviewing the education curriculum for students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the country.
The blueprint includes the introduction of courses in blockchain, AI, metaverse and cybersecurity, with students allowed to pursue a bachelor’s or doctoral degree in the field. The plan will also introduce ‘business-oriented’ training programs intended to act as a talent pipeline for industry players.
“The [South] The Korean government will expand digital education opportunities by developing various options, including more digital and information classes and mandatory coding classes,” MSIT said. “Diagnosis tests for digital capabilities for adults will be carried out regularly and digital literacy will be improved.”
The ministry also announced the government’s plan to improve relations between the private sector and government while supporting excellent students to pursue further training in other jurisdictions.
Introduction of digital badges
Anticipating the expected demand for digital experts, the South Korean government has seized the initiative to introduce blockchain-based digital badges amid the technology’s increasing usefulness. The badges are designed to streamline the application process by electronically bundling applicants’ degrees and qualifications, eliminating the need for cumbersome paperwork.
The Ministry of Science has engaged the Korea Employment Information Service, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea and the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) to support the new policy.
“We will actively support and strive to ensure that the blockchain-based digital badge service provides tangible convenience and efficiency for citizens engaged in job-seeking activities,” said Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho.