"Raising Technicians for Use"... LX Hausys, Hyundai Livart, and Others Go 'All In' on Construction Workforce Development

A scene of training at the LX Jiin Interior Academy operated by LX Hausys.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] Major domestic interior companies such as LX Hausys, Hyundai Livart, and Hanssem are fiercely competing to secure and nurture construction personnel. As competition in the 'comprehensive home interior package' market intensifies, they intend to showcase differentiated competitiveness through excellent construction skills.

According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system on the 21st, Hyundai Livart plans to propose an amendment to its articles of incorporation at the shareholders' meeting on the 29th of this month to add six business purposes, including 'education services,' 'academy operation,' and 'vocational training and education-related businesses.' A Hyundai Livart official said, "With the expansion of the total interior business, we added business purposes to the articles of incorporation to keep various possibilities open, such as nurturing construction personnel," adding, "Specific operational plans have not yet been decided."

Last month, Hyundai Livart launched 'Jipterior,' a comprehensive interior brand covering everything from interior and remodeling consultations to design and construction. This service provides consultation, space consulting, purchase, construction, and after-sales management all at once for all interior products Hyundai Livart owns, including kitchen furniture, bathrooms, windows, flooring, and wallpaper. Hyundai Livart interprets this move as a full-scale entry into securing construction personnel, anticipating further growth in the interior market, which has gained increased interest due to COVID-19.

Currently, Hyundai Livart is conducting education and practical training to nurture interior construction experts in collaboration with the Gyeonggi Job Foundation, which provides vocational education services. Trainees receive education covering the entire process from home interior to customer consultation, construction, and supervision. Through the Korea Construction Vocational School, a commissioned education institution of the Job Foundation, 180 hours of training in architecture, woodworking, and furniture construction techniques are provided. Approximately 80 people become construction experts annually through this program. A Hyundai Livart official emphasized, "We will increase construction personnel by 30% this year to strengthen interior capabilities."

In December last year, LX Hausys opened the 'LX Z:IN Interior Academy' in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, to cultivate construction personnel. The facility has a total floor area of 3,650㎡, making it the largest in the industry. It is equipped with lecture and practice rooms for 15 types of construction work, ranging from basic tasks such as demolition, facilities, and electrical work to the installation of interior products like windows, kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring. It is the only interior-related education facility in Korea with dormitory accommodations.

Recently, LX Hausys' academy was selected as an 'Operator of the National Human Resources Development Consortium Project.' This project is operated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea as a win-win cooperation between large and small-to-medium enterprises, allowing participants to receive education free of charge.

Since the academy's opening, LX Hausys has provided 10 courses for employees and partner company staff. For the general public course that started on the 2nd, about 800 people applied for 70 spots, recording a high competition rate of over 11 to 1. An LX Hausys official said, "60% of the general applicants are young people in their 20s and 30s," adding, "We plan to offer employment opportunities to those who complete the training." LX Hausys plans to operate 160 training courses annually this year and nurture about 3,000 construction experts.

Hanssem, which introduced the comprehensive interior product 'Rehouse' for the first time in the industry in 2016, has long operated the Hanssem Academy, an institution for training construction experts. The number of construction experts Hanssem holds as partners increased significantly from 4,500 in December 2020 to 7,500 by the end of last year.

Hanssem Academy emphasizes the 'standardization of construction skills.' The educational policy is that the quality of all sites must be consistent. To this end, they created training courses lasting from a minimum of 10 days to a maximum of 2 months, covering everything from tool usage to product installation. They also support construction personnel in obtaining nationally certified construction skill qualifications in interior architecture, metal windows, mechanical facilities, and electrical work. A Hanssem official said, "Our goal is to raise the proportion of 'responsible construction,' which guarantees quality and after-service for all remodeling processes, from the current 70% level to 100% through securing excellent construction personnel," adding, "Customer satisfaction with comprehensive interior products will ultimately be determined by construction competitiveness."