NAVER and Seoul National University Launch AI Talent Program Across South Korea
NAVER Connect Foundation and Seoul National University signed a memorandum of understanding on May 26 to develop AI talent and expand access to AI education nationwide. The partnership combines the foundation's experience in AI and software training with the university's regional talent network.
The two organizations will jointly develop education programs for the AI era and support students from different regions in accessing high-quality training. They also plan to conduct joint research to identify new education models suited to industry needs.
AI Agent Challenge Program
The partnership begins with the "AI Agent Challenge," a hands-on program for 200 students across 10 national flagship universities. Students design and build AI agents to solve real-world problems, with mentors from NAVER providing feedback sessions and lectures on workplace AI skills.
This program operates within Seoul National University's existing regional talent development initiative, giving students outside Seoul direct access to industry expertise.
Building on Existing Collaboration
NAVER Connect Foundation and Seoul National University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering previously developed a course called "Frontend Development Using AI." The course, based on the foundation's developer training curriculum, launched in 2025.
The foundation has also run programs such as "AI Utilization and Regional Problem Solving" with Pusan National University to strengthen AI capabilities tailored to regional needs.
Why This Matters for Developers
The program addresses a gap in practical AI training for developers outside major tech hubs. Students gain hands-on experience building production-ready systems while learning from engineers working on real products.
For IT professionals, this signals growing demand for developers with both AI fundamentals and the ability to architect agent-based systems. If you're looking to develop these skills, explore resources on AI learning paths for software developers and generative AI and LLM training.
Ryu Hong-lim, president of Seoul National University, said cooperation between academia and industry is essential for developing talent suited for the AI era. He added that regional development is a core responsibility of the university.
Gong Gi-jung, chairman of NAVER Connect Foundation, said the organization is expanding AI education opportunities nationwide by connecting academia and industry.
Your membership also unlocks:
