Mayor Oh Sehoon Announces Youth Employment Academy 2.0
Specialized Talent Development with Participation from Global AI Leaders
Employment Rate of 80-90%... 10,000 Trainees Annually by 2030
Expanding Infrastructure and Networks to Strengthen Education
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will expand the "Youth Employment Academy," which has been established in every district, into an institution dedicated to nurturing artificial intelligence (AI) talent. The city plans to strengthen the educational system for AI talent development and broaden the scope of support for related employment and entrepreneurship. Based on these measures, Seoul aims to train 10,000 AI professionals annually by 2030.
On the morning of November 11, Mayor Oh Sehoon announced the "Youth Employment Academy 2.0-1089 (Sibjungpalgu) Project" at Seoul City Hall, outlining these support measures as its core.
This project, which focuses on strengthening field-responsive education, expanding employment and entrepreneurship support programs, and enhancing infrastructure and networks, is centered on cultivating practical AI talent.
To achieve this, the city will utilize the "Youth Employment Academy," which has established one campus in each of the 25 districts. Launched with the Yeongdeungpo Campus in 2021, the Youth Employment Academy completed the establishment of all 25 district campuses with the opening of the Jungnang Campus on November 3, 2025. Alongside campus expansion, the scale of education has also grown, training 3,300 young people annually this year and reaching a cumulative total of 10,000 trainees.
The annual number of trainees increased sixfold from 556 in 2021 to 3,300 in 2025. By the end of 2025, the cumulative number of trainees is expected to reach 10,114. Most notably, the Youth Employment Academy, which initially focused on practical IT and software talent, has shifted its focus to the AI industry this year, restructuring existing software (such as fintech and big data) and digital transformation (such as digital marketing) courses to be AI-based.
Details of the "Youth Employment Academy 2.0-1089 (Sibjungpalgu) Project" announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 11th. Seoul Metropolitan Government
Strengthening Advanced Talent Tracks... Building a Field-Responsive Education System
Going forward, Seoul will establish a competitive educational system that can respond to the demands of the AI industry. The city plans to expand the number of "Global Big Tech Dedicated Campuses" to 10 by 2030 and operate "Specialized Industry Hub Campuses" to nurture even more specialized talent. Global AI leaders such as NVIDIA and Oracle will be responsible for advanced, intermediate-level courses, while domestic conglomerates like SK and KT will participate in project-based, practical training programs.
A new "Industry-Academia-Research Advanced Talent Track" will be introduced for young people who complete the Youth Employment Academy's AI curriculum. Twenty participants will be selected annually and supported through research and academic degree programs, with the goal of producing upgraded talent.
Opportunities to participate in training will also increase. The operational model of the Youth Employment Academy will be thoroughly reviewed, and the previous limit of two participations per lifetime will be abolished, allowing retraining for those who have completed a course after one year has passed.
A new department operations committee will be established to systematically manage and enhance the quality of the curriculum by overseeing the introduction and discontinuation of courses, student academic management, and instructor standards.
Support for Internships and Certifications... Strengthening Incubation and Other Programs
Employment and entrepreneurship support programs, such as customized internships for companies and public institutions, will be expanded. The city will conduct workforce demand surveys among member companies of AI-related associations and implement "corporate-linked internships" in connection with Seoul's attractive job opportunities. This is a systematic management system aimed at leading to actual employment.
Additionally, Seoul will actively utilize its existing employment policies to encourage more companies to participate, for example by adding the "AI field" to the "Seoul-type Youth Intern Job Camp" program.
Reflecting the strong demand from trainees for practical experience, the city plans to discover and match over 300 internship positions starting next year and is considering providing internships to 1,000 young people annually by 2030.
For those interested in starting a business, the city will go beyond existing meeting spaces and mentor consulting to operate an incubation program that supports the entire startup process, including technology, marketing, and investment attraction. Before launching a business, participants will be provided with online and offline spaces and one-on-one expert consulting. After launching, they can utilize the Seoul Startup Center's startup support programs for technology commercialization, market research, and fundraising, among other incubation services.
Details of the "Youth Employment Academy 2.0-1089 (Sibjungpalgu) Project" announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 11th. Seoul Metropolitan Government
Expanding Human and Physical Infrastructure, Including Campus Expansion
The city also announced plans to actively utilize public and private infrastructure and strengthen networks with related organizations.
To provide a better educational environment for more young people, 16 small campuses, each averaging 494 square meters, will be expanded to medium and large campuses of over 1,000 square meters by 2030.
In addition, the city will introduce a "Mobile Youth Employment Academy" in cooperation with universities and offer specialized training utilizing advanced equipment and outstanding personnel at universities. Through diverse curricula and methods, the goal is to train 10,000 AI professionals annually by 2030.
In December, the city will form the "Seoul AI Alliance," a collaborative body involving the Youth Employment Academy, companies, universities, and associations, to discuss the direction and methods of AI talent development. The city plans to expand the number of participating organizations to 250 by 2030. Internal networks will also be strengthened. The Youth Employment Academy alumni association will be enhanced to provide regular mentoring in fields such as technology, trends, and careers. Additionally, a development fund will be established to support social activities such as AI education volunteer work and scholarships for trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Mayor Oh stated, "Over the past five years, the Youth Employment Academy has completed the 'one district, one campus era,' opening up opportunities for learning and challenge for young people in Seoul. Going forward, we will develop it into a comprehensive platform for nurturing AI talent that directly connects learning to employment and entrepreneurship, transforming Seoul into an innovative city with global competitiveness."
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