South Korea is battling to attract top talent in its artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor sectors. Last year, SK Hynix made headlines by recruiting over 1,000 new and experienced employees. Not to be outdone, Samsung Electronics launched a major initiative to hire foreign experts for research and development (R&D) positions in the first half of this year, heightening the competition for the industry’s best professionals.
The Hunt for Elite Talent: The Semiconductor Industry’s Recruitment Push
According to industry sources, ten Samsung subsidiaries, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDS, and Samsung SDI, began recruiting foreign professionals for R&D positions on Monday. This marks the fourth wave of foreign talent acquisition in South Korea, with the number of participating subsidiaries growing from three (Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, and Samsung SDI) last year to ten this year.
To be considered for these positions, candidates must have a minimum score of Level 3 on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). Preference is given to applicants with over two years of experience after earning their bachelor’s degree or those with advanced degrees such as a master’s or doctorate. The companies are particularly keen on candidates with semiconductor expertise or advanced technical skills at the graduate level, even if they only meet the basic language requirement.
In 2023, SK Hynix garnered attention for its record-breaking hiring spree, bringing over 700 new employees on board and more than 1,000 when including experienced hires. Samsung Electronics’ move to recruit experienced professionals in February is seen as a strategic effort to capture top-tier talent ahead of its competitors.
The semiconductor industry’s aggressive talent acquisition strategy stems from a critical workforce shortage. As AI expands, particularly in areas like the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, the demand for skilled professionals rises faster than the available supply. Finding super talent capable of leading advanced technological innovations remains an enormous challenge.
U.S. and China Dominate AI Talent: Urging South Korea to Step Up Industry Support
The rapid rise of the U.S. and China as dominant players in the global AI talent market further intensifies South Korea’s recruitment efforts.
A recent report from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), titled “In-Depth Analysis of Technology Levels in Three Game-Changer Fields,” paints a concerning picture for South Korea. According to the study, South Korea’s semiconductor technology has fallen behind China in most areas over the past two years.
When comparing the world’s leading technology nations on a 100% scale, South Korea ranks third in high-density and resistance-based memory technology with a score of 90.9%, trailing China’s 94.1% (second place). South Korea scores 84.1% in high-performance, low-power AI semiconductor technology, compared to China’s 88.3%. In power semiconductor technology, South Korea lags with a score of 67.5% (6th place), while China stands at 79.8% (4th place). In next-generation high-performance sensing technology, South Korea scored 81.3% (5th place), while China scored 83.9% (4th place).
Despite facing heavy U.S. trade barriers, China has continued to bolster its independent AI and semiconductor capabilities, posing an increasing challenge to competitors. In 2023, China surpassed the U.S. to claim the top spot in the Nature Index, a global ranking of scientific research published in Nature. This marked the second consecutive year China outperformed the U.S. in terms of academic paper quantity and impact.
China’s rise as a global leader in AI talent is undeniable. According to the University of Chicago’s Global AI Talent Tracker, the percentage of top-tier AI researchers from China in the global top 20% surged from 29% in 2019 to 47% in 2022. In the same period, the U.S. share declined from 20% to 18%, while South Korea remained steady at around 2%.
Experts attribute China’s rapid growth as an AI talent hub to robust government support, even amid U.S. efforts to curb its rise. Since its 2016 Made in China 2025 initiative, China has invested substantially in fostering and attracting advanced industrial talent, creating a world-class pool of expertise.
Professor Moon Song Chun, South Korea’s first Ph.D. in computer science and an emeritus professor at KAIST, points to the country’s software neglect as a significant factor in the current talent shortage. He argues that the government and companies’ lack of investment in software development has failed to create the necessary environment to cultivate talent. This oversight has disrupted South Korea’s leadership position in cutting-edge technologies like AI semiconductors.
This year, the South Korean government allocated just KRW 1.8 trillion (approximately $1.4 billion) for AI-related initiatives, a mere 0.27% of the nation’s total KRW 673.3 trillion (roughly $470 billion). Moon calls on the government to increase support for the software industry, saying, “With the capabilities of domestic companies like Samsung Electronics, South Korea can regain its competitive edge in a short period.”
