Spigen Korea, Opennote, MET named top human resources development companies

Spigen Korea, Opennote and MET have been named this year's top human resources development companies in their respective categories.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea announced Wednesday that they will hold the "2026 Best HRD Certification Award Ceremony" at the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel in Seoul on Thursday.

A total of 95 companies received the "Best Human Resources Development Institution (Best HRD)" certification this year — 19 large enterprises, 56 small and medium-sized enterprises and 20 work-first, study-later companies. Of those, 60 are newly certified and 35 are recertified.

The top-scoring companies in each category were Spigen Korea in the large enterprise division, Opennote in the small and medium-sized enterprise division, and MET in the work-first, study-later division. All three will receive a commendation from the Minister of Employment and Labor.

Spigen Korea was recognized for building a talent development system that links individual performance evaluations with personal development plans, creating a virtuous cycle between HR management and training. The company also operates an in-house chatbot trained on more than 60 HR regulations and has strengthened employees' AI capabilities through tiered AI education programs.

Opennote structured its training curriculum around the job competencies needed for core future businesses, including AI, cloud and energy information and communications technology. The company was cited as a best-practice example for connecting training outcomes to on-the-job application, performance reviews, promotions, compensation and career development.

MET runs hands-on new-employee training programs focused on automation equipment and robotics, and provides allowances to employees who obtain relevant certifications. The company also earned high marks for offering youth a work-first, study-later pathway through partnerships with specialized and meister high schools and through P-TECH, a high-skill work-study program.

The Best HRD certification comprehensively evaluates a company's talent development system, covering everything from recruitment, performance assessment and compensation to training and career development. This year's review incorporated participation in AI training programs, online training outcomes and human resources investment records at work-first, study-later companies.

Certified companies are exempt from routine labor inspections for three years and receive preferential points when applying for government support projects and subsidies. Since the program was introduced in 2006, a total of 2,661 companies have applied for certification and 1,319 have received it.

Pyeon Do-in, director general of the ministry's vocational competency development bureau, said systematic talent development is essential for companies to keep pace with rapidly changing industrial conditions driven by AI and digital transformation. "We will continue to push forward a range of training and education policies so that workers can build the competencies needed in this era of change," he said.