KOR
▲ Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon delivers his inaugural address at Seoul City Hall on the 1st.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching a program to provide generative AI access, dedicated learning spaces, and customized training to ensure no young person is left behind by shifting industrial landscapes.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon held a press briefing at City Hall this morning (July 2) to announce the Youth AI Ladder Support Plan and outline the city's youth policy direction in the era of AI transformation.
This marks the first youth policy initiative of Mayor Oh's 9th term, which began yesterday (July 1).
During his inauguration ceremony yesterday, Mayor Oh also highlighted youth policy, mentioning "Seoul, where youth dream again" as one of his key administrative tasks.
The city explained the background of the project, stating, "Generative AI is rapidly spreading across areas such as learning, job preparation, and professional skill development for young people."
Since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, the experience of using generative AI has steadily increased, rising from 17.6% in 2023 to 44.5% last year.
A survey on corporate hiring trends conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the second half of last year showed that 7 out of 10 companies consider a candidate's AI proficiency during the recruitment process.
This policy was designed to ensure that the cost of using AI does not lead to a gap in capabilities, providing an equal starting line for all young people to utilize AI regardless of their economic circumstances.
The support will be driven by two main pillars: guaranteeing basic AI rights for youth and fostering AI-native talent.
The city will provide access passes so that all young people in Seoul can utilize generative AI regardless of their income or qualifications.
To provide the latest AI models to youth for free at the lowest possible cost, the city is currently negotiating service terms and pricing with global AI companies.
Furthermore, the city will establish Seoul AI Lounges, which are workspaces equipped with high-performance computers capable of running advanced AI, located in areas frequented by young people, such as university districts.
Starting with the Seoul Metropolitan Library in the second half of this year, the city plans to build and operate five such locations by 2030.
To foster AI talent, the city will offer various courses, including document creation and information retrieval, through its existing AI education platform, the Seoul AI Digital Learning Center.
The city will also support examination fees for young people taking certified AI or data-related exams and provide a congratulatory payment upon successful certification.
Young people taking AI and high-tech convergence courses at the Seoul Youth Talent Training Academy and technical education centers will be provided with project experience to help strengthen their practical skills.
Mayor Oh stated, "The competitiveness of Seoul, a global top 3 city, ultimately begins with people," adding, "Investment in youth is the most certain investment for Seoul's future and the most certain growth strategy toward becoming a global top 3 city."
He further emphasized, "Through the AI Ladder, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide a fair AI starting line for everyone and become a city that invests in its youth first so they can grow into the protagonists of the AI era."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
