Ministry of Employment and Labor, Hyundai Motor Group join hands to train 1,000 future mobility talents

South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor and Hyundai Motor Group have joined forces to develop young talent for the future mobility industry. The government plans to expand K-New Deal Academy, a vocational training program led by large corporations, to strengthen young job seekers' competitiveness.

Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon attended the joint enrollment ceremony for Hyundai Motor Group's K-New Deal Academy program, HINT (HMG Incubation of New Talent), held Monday at the Hyundai Motor Group Human Resources Development Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Hyundai Motor Group President Sung Kim and trainees selected from seven regions across the country also attended.

K-New Deal Academy is a government initiative in which large companies design and operate their own industry-tailored curricula to build practical skills among young people and support their employment. HINT, run by Hyundai Motor Group, offers a curriculum specialized in the future mobility sector — covering core technologies such as embedded AI and smart manufacturing, alongside job placement support. The program aims to train a total of 1,000 young people across seven regions nationwide through two rounds this year.

Before the ceremony, Minister Kim had lunch with the trainees, listening to their experiences navigating the job market and their expectations for the program. Trainees will first complete a two-night, three-day residential program to build connections and a foundation for collaboration before moving on to their respective regional curricula.

"As the automotive industry rapidly shifts toward electric vehicles and software, nurturing future talent is more important than ever," Hyundai Motor Group President Sung Kim said. "I hope the trainees will grow into professionals equipped not only with specialized knowledge but also with the problem-solving skills needed on the job."

"K-New Deal Academy is a program that combines young people's efforts with support from the government and businesses to help them grow," Minister Kim said. "True to our slogan — 'Youth grows with companies' — we will continue to expand K-New Deal Academy so that more young people can take that leap forward."

The HINT curriculum covers foundational job skills including business etiquette, generative AI applications and AI agent-based workflow automation, as well as an embedded AI track focused on core technologies for next-generation vehicle development and a smart manufacturing track covering smart factory operations and production data analysis. Field-oriented programs such as factory tours and hands-on training with actual vehicles are also included.