[Edaily Reporter Yun Junghoon ] "A decline in hiring in the AI era is an inevitable reality. The key lies in how to maximize ‘productivity per person.’”

Lee TAESUNG, Senior Vice President of KTCorporation’s Human Resources Division, stated at a briefing session for the KTCorporation(030200) Able School held at the KTCorporation Jeonong Building on the 4th that companies’ hiring strategies are changing in the wake of the spread of AI. He explained that rather than hiring large numbers of new graduates to gain experience, as was done in the past, the new challenge for companies is to select hands-on talent who can immediately solve problems on the job by leveraging AI.

“KTCorporation’s workforce structure has traditionally been inverted triangular, with a high average age and limited influx of new talent,” said Executive Vice President Lee. “In the AX era, as AI takes over more tasks, companies have no choice but to focus on how to increase productivity per employee.”

He added, “The more we enter an era where AI replaces Saramin, the more companies will seek talent capable of delivering immediate results on the job.”

A program that reflects this hiring philosophy is “KTCorporation Able School,” which KTCorporation operates in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Able School is an AI and cloud-based, hands-on talent development program offered through two tracks: AI developer and DX consultant. Rather than simply teaching AI technology, it focuses on helping participants gain experience solving real-world problems encountered in the industry.

Trainees receive a total of 840 hours of training over approximately six months. Just like attending a test-prep academy, following the six-month curriculum enables them to master AI technologies. They experience the entire process, from AI service planning to data analysis, the use of generative AI, model development, and the implementation of cloud-based services. Starting this year, the program has also significantly increased the emphasis on Agent AI and multi-agent training.

In particular, the core of the training lies in project experience. Trainees learn how to solve problems through real-world projects that cannot be taught in a traditional academic setting. Over the six-month period, students work in teams to complete a total of eight projects—seven mini-projects and one large-scale project—of varying sizes. Additionally, approximately 200 current KTCorporation experts participate as mentors and specialized instructors, providing hands-on guidance covering everything from planning to technical implementation and commercialization potential.

Executive Director Lee explained, “While we continue to incorporate the latest technologies, such as Agent AI, into the curriculum, the fundamentals are even more important,” adding, “We are constantly updating the curriculum to align with industry changes—for example, strengthening security measures as security becomes a priority.”

Able School is not a program exclusively for engineering students. Currently, about half of the 9th cohort’s participants are non-majors.

Kim Su-cheon, Team Leader of KTCorporation Able School, said, “We operate tracks for AI developers and DX consultants, and non-majors account for about 50% of the participants,” adding, “While working on projects together, we focus on developing problem-solving skills rather than emphasizing academic majors.”

In fact, the “Eco Kong” team—one of the top performers in the 9th cohort—was formed by students majoring in Korean Language and Literature, Japanese Language and Culture, Energy Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Using AI, they conducted a comprehensive analysis of algal blooms, water quality, water resource security, and small-scale hydropower generation to develop “BOIDA,” a decision-support system that proposes optimal weir operation scenarios. They recently won the Daesang at the “2026 AX Idea Competition” hosted by the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment.

Trainee Kim Nam-hoon said, “Having experienced actual work, I realized that simply knowing the technology is different from performing the job properly,” adding, “Through the Able School project, I was able to gain experience in defining and solving problems.”

KTCorporation plans to hire 140 new employees in the second half of this year. Outstanding Able School graduates will receive preferential treatment during the initial document screening stage and will then go through the same hiring process as general applicants.

Executive Director Lee said, “Initially, we considered a plan to hire a certain percentage of Able School graduates,” adding, “However, we determined that giving them a ‘silver platter’ simply because they received specific training would not align with the fairness that this generation values.”

He continued, “While a company that has nurtured talent does bear a certain responsibility, we believed the fairest approach was to grant outstanding graduates the opportunity to bypass the initial document screening—within reasonable limits—and then evaluate them on an equal footing through aptitude tests and interviews.”

To date, Able School has produced approximately 3,500 graduates, who are entering various fields—including AI development, data analysis, consulting, and marketing—at a range of IT companies and major corporations, including the KTCorporation.