Encouraging Digital Talent Development by Removing University Partitions
Supporting U-Turn of Overseas Talent
Establishing a 50 Trillion Won Semiconductor Fund... Strengthening Non-Memory Competitiveness
Creating 1 Million Social Service Jobs
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Yoo Seung-min, a former lawmaker and presidential candidate of the People Power Party, announced a pledge on the 15th to cultivate one million digital innovation talents. This aims to promote comprehensive educational system reforms to strengthen competitiveness in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data (BD).
On the same day, Yoo revealed the ‘100+100 Job Pledge: One Million Digital Innovation Talents + One Million Social Service Jobs’ through online streaming services and social networking services (SNS).
He said, "The technological competition of the 4th Industrial Revolution forces us to make a choice. If we fall behind in this competition, the Korean economy will be reduced to a subcontracting base for world-leading companies, and mass unemployment will await us. But if we win, a path to growth and good jobs will open for us." Yoo emphasized, "The core of technological competition lies in talents in the ABCD fields (AI - Artificial Intelligence / Big Data / Computing / Domain Knowledge - specialized expertise in specific fields)" and pledged to "train one million digital innovation talents." He added, "We will open the path for our young people and children to become innovation talents."
To this end, he specifically announced reforms across the education sector. First, he plans to remove barriers such as department quotas and enable integrated education linking bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as master's and doctoral degrees. For AI and BD, he intends to make them compulsory general education subjects at universities. To attract overseas talents, he will support U-turns for Korean talents active abroad, recruit world-class talents, and liberalize restrictions on professors holding concurrent positions in companies and research institutes to encourage industry-academia-research collaboration.
Furthermore, he announced plans to introduce a ‘Computer Exploration’ subject in the college entrance exam’s elective inquiry section and establish a ‘Digital Talent Track’ in early admission processes. Additionally, he pledged to expand digital-related military specialties (IT specialists, information protection soldiers, software development soldiers, etc.) and provide digital education opportunities for soldiers.
He also pledged to promote labor reform, regulatory reform, tax support, and industrial land support to assist domestic companies’ reshoring efforts.
To strengthen the semiconductor industry, he plans to invest 50 trillion won to establish a public-private cooperative semiconductor fund called the ‘Koma Tech Fund’ (tentative name; Korea Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology Fund). Semiconductor companies will participate as joint investors to focus on nurturing fabless (design companies) and foundries (manufacturing companies) in the non-memory sector. The government will support research and development (R&D) but leave management to the private sector, and once the business is on track, it will be privatized.
He also promised one million social service jobs. Yoo stated, "To raise social service jobs to the OECD average level, we will create one million jobs within a five-year term." Social service jobs include care, nursing, childcare, and employment services. Positions such as childcare teachers, after-school care providers, postpartum helpers, visiting nurses, social workers, nursing assistants, caregivers, and employment consultants are deeply embedded in our daily lives.
He said, "Social service jobs will involve various actors including the private sector, social economy, and public corporations, while respecting the autonomy of the private sector as much as possible." He added, "We will strengthen education and vocational training for social service personnel and improve qualification systems to enhance both the scale and quality of social service workers." Yoo emphasized, "With government support and proper development of the social economy, social service jobs can firmly establish themselves as decent jobs rather than low-wage, irregular jobs." He concluded, "One million social service jobs will be an essential job policy in the era of low birthrates and aging."
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