Youth employment in South Korea dropped sharply in industries most exposed to artificial intelligence after generative AI tools such as ChatGPT emerged, according to a Bank of Korea report published Tuesday. From June 2022 to June 2026, the number of jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 fell by 285,000, with 268,000 of that decline, or 94%, concentrated in AI-exposed sectors including IT services, publishing, computer programming and professional services. Over the same period, jobs held by people in their 50s rose by 230,000, including 173,000 in AI-exposed sectors. The report also showed a wider post-2022 unemployment gap for young people with university-level education, suggesting higher-skilled entry-level work may be more vulnerable as AI automation spreads. The central bank said population decline likely played a major role in the broader shift, while AI appears to have accelerated a weakening career ladder for young workers.