Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
K-New Deal Academy trains 4,249 people, less than half its target
South Korea’s K-New Deal Academy offers job training for young people, with large companies designing and running courses in areas they need.
The government supports participating companies and trainees with training costs and allowances.
The program had 4,249 people in training, or 42.5% of this year’s target of 10,000.
Many of the 50 participating companies recruited fewer people than they had planned.
For example, Samsung recruited 665 of a planned 1,000, while Microsoft recruited 40 of 200.
Despite the shortfall, the government plans to raise next year’s target to 50,000 and increase the budget from 988 billion won to 4.895 trillion won.
It also plans a new program to connect graduates with further training and jobs, while critics say the government should first check whether the training leads to employment.
K-New Deal Academy had 4,249 people in training as of September 15, reaching 42.5% of the government’s target of 10,000 for this year.
Many participating companies recruited fewer trainees than planned.
The government plans to expand the program to 50,000 people next year and raise its budget to 489.5 billion won.
An opposition lawmaker questioned whether the expansion is effective without evidence that training leads to jobs.
- Who
- The South Korean government and companies running K-New Deal Academy training programs.
- What
- The program had 4,249 people in training, fewer than half its 10,000-person target.
- When
- The figure was recorded on September 15; the report was published October 13, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Many of the 50 participating companies recruited fewer trainees than planned.
The government
Park Su-min, opposition lawmaker
Program expansion
The government
The government plans to expand support to 50,000 people next year and link graduates to employment and further training.
Park Su-min, opposition lawmaker
Park said expansion should wait until the government can verify that support reaches young people who need it and leads to actual jobs.
K-New Deal Academy had 4,249 people in training, 42.5% of its target of 10,000.
Lee Hyoung-il visited the Hanwha Tomorrow Academy training center in Seoul and outlined plans to expand support next year.
Maeil Business reported the participation figures and concerns about the planned budget increase.
The government plans to support 50,000 people and increase the program budget to 489.5 billion won.
- People in training
- 4,249 as of September 15
- This year's target
- 10,000 people
- Share of target reached
- 42.5%
- Participating companies
- 50
- Next year's planned support
- 50,000 people
- Next year's budget
- 4,895 billion won
What people are saying
Next year, we plan to increase the scale of support to 50,000 people, five times this year's level, and provide follow-up support for graduates' employment and training through a new Youth Playground program.
What young people need is not a showy budget expansion but real employment opportunities.
Sources
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