15 New K-Digital Platform Sites Selected... SKT, Samsung Heavy, POSCO, Sungkyunkwan University, and More

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[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea announced on the 13th that they have newly selected 15 'K-Digital Platform' sites, including SK Telecom, Samsung Heavy Industries, POSCO, and Sungkyunkwan University. The number will increase from 5 sites last year to 20 this year.

At the K-Digital Platform sites, trainees who have been issued the National Training Card (Naeil Baeum Card) will be able to directly operate job training programs such as K-Digital Training, K-Digital First Step (Credit), and digital convergence training for incumbent workers. It is expected that a total of about 13,000 trainees will have training opportunities at these sites. In addition to training, various digital experience programs will be operated for local companies and residents. Anyone can use the training facilities and equipment for free by making a reservation.

Institutions designated as K-Digital Platforms will receive infrastructure construction costs totaling 3 billion KRW over five years, with 1 billion KRW in the first year and 500 million KRW annually from the 2nd to 5th years. In the second year of the project, various institutions such as companies and innovative training institutions for K-Digital Training will operate the K-Digital Platforms.

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First, leading companies in digital transformation in key industries such as telecommunications, shipbuilding, and steel participate. SK Telecom actively participates focusing on youth as part of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management. Samsung Heavy Industries and POSCO provide support for incumbent workers in response to digital transformation. These companies directly operate K-Digital Training and Credit training programs. They also provide employment and startup support networks and mentoring to trainees.

Innovative training institutions such as Modu's Lab, Alice, and Gureum, which were centered in the metropolitan area, will participate in the K-Digital Platform, expanding quality digital training opportunities to trainees outside the metropolitan area and incumbent workers in local SMEs. Sungkyunkwan University (university), which has strengths in industry-academia cooperation, and SolDesk (training institution), which has training operation capabilities, also join. Certified qualification acquisition courses through collaboration with leading digital companies such as Google Korea will also be operated. Institutions that can respond most promptly to the demands of local industries, such as regional universities and public institutions, have also been selected.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor emphasized that this new selection has laid the groundwork for easier participation in digital training anywhere in the regions. In the metropolitan area, landmarks have been established by selecting areas such as Gangnam in Seoul and Pangyo in Gyeonggi Province to encourage easy participation, and in non-metropolitan areas, innovative training institutions with excellent digital training courses will advance, which is expected to contribute to reducing the outflow of young people from the regions.

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The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to create 60 K-Digital Platforms of various sizes nationwide by 2025. The 15 newly selected K-Digital Platforms will open sequentially from as early as the second quarter after the facility and equipment construction period. Detailed information on the operation locations and utilization methods of the K-Digital Platforms can be found on the separate websites of each institution.

Ryu Kyung-hee, Director of the Vocational Competency Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, "To strengthen digital capabilities, a space is needed nearby where people can come together and 'learn while playing' by solving various problems directly beyond just training." She added, "We will actively support the 20 K-Digital Platforms expanded this year to become the center of digitalization by region."

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