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2026-05-25 16:29:27
[South Korea: AI Era Arrives, Skilled Blue-Collar Workers Become Highly Sought After] For a long time, a degree from a prestigious university and a white-collar job have been the hallmarks of success in the eyes of South Koreans. Now, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) driving a boom in the semiconductor industry, frontline production workers are seeing significant income increases. As AI replaces many office jobs, more young people are choosing vocational schools to more easily secure frontline production positions. According to a report in South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo on the 25th, with the semiconductor industry entering an upward cycle, frontline employees in the chip divisions of SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics are expected to receive substantial bonuses. Against this backdrop, data from the Korea Association of Junior Colleges and Universities shows that the number of people choosing vocational schools this year has reached a new high of 2,500, an increase of 23% year-on-year. (Xinhua)
