GS Engineering & Construction Launches Open Recruitment for Entry-Level AI Engineers... First in Industry in Three Years [Real Estate AtoZ]

Dedicated to AI Development... Utilizing LLMs and Machine Learning
CEO Yoonhong Heo Stresses "AI Is a Necessity, Not a Choice"

GS Engineering & Construction is conducting an open recruitment for artificial intelligence (AI) engineers. While such hiring is common in other industries, it is unusual in the construction sector, where there is little intersection with AI. Unlike other companies that utilize existing IT staff for AI roles, GS Engineering & Construction is characterized by recruiting new employees specifically for AI work. Some expect that this move will bring the company one step closer to realizing the vision of CEO Yoonhong Heo, who has consistently emphasized digital transformation (DX). However, there are also observations that achieving tangible results in the field-oriented construction industry will not be easy.

According to industry sources on December 12, GS Engineering & Construction will hire a single-digit number of new employees to handle AI engineering roles. If selected, the new hires will begin work in January of next year. The company plans to assign them to digital-related departments, where they will be dedicated solely to AI development. Using the latest technologies such as large language models (LLMs) and machine learning, they will focus on solving issues related to safety, process, and cost optimization.

This is the first time GS Engineering & Construction has hired AI engineers. It is not because the company is lagging in its perception of DX. Even among major construction firms, hiring new employees specifically for AI-related positions is rare. In 2022 and 2019, POSCO E&C reportedly hired one and two new employees, respectively, to handle AI and big data, marking the first such cases. Until this GS Engineering & Construction recruitment in the second half of 2025, none of the top 10 construction companies had hired AI engineers. Other construction firms have filled their needs by utilizing existing data-related staff, hiring experienced professionals, or transferring personnel from affiliates. An industry insider explained, "Given that AI engineers command very high salaries, it is common to either utilize those interested in the work or bring in people whose salary expectations align with the company’s pay scale to fill the roles."

The newly hired employees will build experience with real industry data-based projects from the early stages of their employment. GS Engineering & Construction also plans to provide systematic support to help them strengthen their expertise. Depending on the results of this recruitment and the demand for AI technology, the company may consider hiring additional staff. A company representative stated, "Future recruitment plans have not yet been determined, but given our focus on AI-based innovation and practical applications, the possibility remains open."

Huh Yunhong, CEO of GS Engineering & Construction, is speaking about the importance of digital transformation (DX) at the executive workshop held last April. GS Engineering & Construction

This bold recruitment initiative by GS Engineering & Construction is largely driven by CEO Heo. He has consistently called for change through DX and has emphasized that "AI is not a choice but a necessity." In April, CEO Heo, along with more than 100 executives and next-generation leaders, including heads of business divisions and departments, held a workshop on the theme of "Enhancing Competitiveness through Active Use of AI." In August, the company became the first construction firm in Korea to introduce OpenAI’s enterprise AI solution, ChatGPT Enterprise. At a competition aimed at strengthening employees’ AI capabilities and sharing best practices, CEO Heo personally presented the awards.

GS Engineering & Construction is expanding the scope of its AI applications. The company has independently developed and is using "Xi-Book," an AI tool that analyzes standard specifications for housing construction, including those from the Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH). The use of AI has reduced the hassle of manually searching for documents during quality inspections. The company has also developed and is utilizing "Xi Voice," an AI translation program for communicating with foreign workers on-site. Additionally, it plans to enhance productivity with the "AI-Drone Geological Layer Classification Prediction Management System" and possesses technology to detect concrete quality issues in real time using AI. The company’s apartment brand "Xi" features the "Xi Soundscape" service, which uses AI to play optimized music in building entrances, landscaped walking paths, community lobbies, and lounges, reflecting factors such as location, time, and weather.

An industry insider commented, "There has been a prevalent perception that AI adoption is difficult in the construction industry due to its field-oriented nature, but as attempts to utilize AI increase, results are beginning to appear. In particular, interest in smart construction powered by AI is steadily growing."