[Digital Today Jin-ho Lee] The Ministry of Science and ICT will begin recruiting from May 6 trainees for the Innovation Academy's 'Codyssey' AI Native programme to lead the artificial intelligence (AI) transition of local industries in Daejeon and South Gyeongsang.

Codyssey is a Korean-style AI and software (SW) education programme based on peer learning and self-directed learning. The Innovation Academy's AI and SW innovation training, previously run mainly in Seoul and Gyeongsan, will expand this year to Daejeon and South Gyeongsang.

The newly established Innovation Academy education centres in Daejeon and South Gyeongsang will offer an 'AI Native (May recruitment)' course to develop talent for industrial convergence using AI and an 'AI All-in-One (August recruitment)' course to train field-oriented AI and SW developers.

The AI Native course focuses on developing convergence talent that can solve workplace problems using generative AI and vibe-coding tools without complex development knowledge. It will select about 200 trainees in total, around 100 each for Daejeon and South Gyeongsang.

Any adult of South Korean nationality, or anyone with at least a high school diploma, can apply. Applicants who pass an online suitability assessment running through May 27 can apply for the course from June 4 to June 9. Training runs from July 1 to Nov. 30 in a three-stage structure: AI tool learning (1 month), AI utilisation learning (1 month) and AI applications and hands-on projects (3 months).

Selected trainees will receive scholarships of up to 1 million won per month for five months. Special lectures by working AI experts, job consulting and other growth-support programmes to strengthen AI capabilities and support employment and start-ups will also be provided.

In Seoul, the online suitability assessment is currently under way. Course applications will be accepted from May 11 to May 15.

Nam Cheol-gi (남철기), the ministry's director general for software policy, said, "AI is now an essential capability for all jobs beyond the domain of specific technologists," adding, "I hope outstanding talent will become a key driving force leading the AI transition at regional industrial sites through the Codyssey AI Native course."