South Korea should develop professional employment service agencies that support young jobseekers from identifying employer demand through training, work experience, placement and follow-up care, experts said at the "Youth Jobs in the AI Era" forum at COEX in Seoul on the 22nd. Lee Sang-bok, head of the human resources development division at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), argued that employment support should shift from a public-led model toward greater private-sector participation. He said the number of participating companies should rise from roughly 4,000 to 40,000 or 80,000. The KCCI said 268,000, or 94%, of the 280,000 youth jobs lost between 2022 and 2026 were in occupations highly exposed to AI, as automation reduces entry-level tasks such as research and document drafting. Speakers cited SK Group's hiring-linked SKALA training program as an example of connecting practical AI skills with employment, while calling for stronger incentives for preferred employers to participate. Other experts urged the government to commit 20 trillion to 30 trillion won, compared with 900 billion won spent so far, and to take full responsibility for youth employment until participants find work.