HRD Korea shifts corporate training evaluation from participation to real results, adds SME AI category

The criteria for evaluating outstanding corporate education and training cases are shifting from simple training participation to actual on-the-job performance. A new category, "SME AX (AI transformation)," has also been introduced for small and medium-sized enterprises that have applied artificial intelligence to their operations and production processes.

The Human Resources Development Service of Korea, or HRD Korea, said it held the 2026 Contest for Outstanding Employer-Sponsored Vocational Training Cases at COEX Magok in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on Thursday.

Employer-sponsored vocational training support is a system under which the government covers part of the cost when employers train their employees to improve job performance. HRD Korea supports various forms of corporate training, including employer-sponsored training and systematic on-the-job training, or S-OJT, in which field instructors pass on skills and know-how directly to workers.

This year's contest shifted its evaluation focus from "outstanding cases by training type" to "tangible results based on workplace conditions." The aim is to identify training cases tailored to companies' size and characteristics that can be shared as guidelines other companies can reference.

The award categories also did away with distinctions by training type and were reorganized into four groups: large and mid-sized companies; small and medium-sized enterprises applying individually or jointly; the new SME AX category; and training institutions.

The SME AX category in particular evaluated cases in which companies applied AI to their operations and production processes, or improved workflow and performance by strengthening workers' AI skills. The move is intended to encourage AI adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises and lower the barriers to entering corporate training programs.

The awards this year also newly included cases of training institutions supporting employees through projects such as a digital remote-training archive and a premium job-training program. Under the premium training program, small and medium-sized enterprise employees can voluntarily take part in the job training they need. Companies whose training-cost ratio reaches 90 percent or higher receive up to 26 million won ($19,400) in support.

HRD Korea also revised eligibility rules to limit repeat participation by companies that have won awards over the past three years. The change is meant to prevent awards from concentrating on a handful of companies and to continue discovering new companies and a wider range of training cases.

This year's contest drew 101 companies and 12 training institutions nationwide. After document and presentation reviews, a total of 20 companies and institutions were selected for awards across the four categories.

Binggrae took first place in the large and mid-sized enterprise category, and Samwoo Electronics Precision led the small and medium-sized enterprise solo or joint category. Speedrack topped the SME AX category, and the Korea Productivity Center won the training institution category. Each category's top winner received a citation from the minister of employment and labor and a prize of 3 million won. Second- through fifth-place winners each received a citation from the HRD Korea president along with prize money.

"I hope the contest will help uncover a variety of outstanding cases and spread them to many companies," said Lee Byung-hoon, president of HRD Korea. "We will build an ecosystem where corporate sustainability grows through the enhancement of workers' capabilities."