Ryu Geun-gwan, a professor in the Department of Economics at Seoul National University, emphasized the importance of the university's KDT artificial intelligence (AI) expert course, saying, "AI is the only hope that can save the Korean economy."
In an interview with ChosunBiz on Feb. 4 at Seoul National University's Useok Economics Hall, Ryu said, "Everyone recognizes the importance of AI, but not many people truly know how to use it." He added, "Right now there are only calls to create 'AI expert training programs,' but there are not enough programs that actually cultivate the experts needed on the ground."
The KDT AI expert course led by Ryu is largely divided into two tracks. The first is the so-called ABS (AI Big Data Specialist) course, which trains experts, and the second is the ABC (AI Big Data CEO) course, which teaches chief executive officers (CEOs) how to use AI.
◇ The core of training AI experts, the ABS course
The KDT program is a Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) national funding program, and the ABS, the Seoul National University Big Data AI Fintech advanced expert course that began in 2017, has produced 11 cohorts of graduates to date. With about 45 people per cohort, it has trained roughly 500 AI experts in total, serving as a central pillar in cultivating AI talent in Korea.
The strength of the ABS program is the "capstone" course, where trainees test themselves in real-world settings at corporations. After four months of education, trainees enter specific corporations for three months to carry out AI projects and gain hands-on experience. In this process, trainees developed various AI solutions. Two of them have been filed for patents.
In the recent 11th ABS cohort, trainees developed an AI chatbot that assists analysts' reports at an investment asset management company, and tools that analyze industry- and corporation-specific impacts from economic changes. The ABS program also often leads to employment through real-world experience. According to Seoul National University, 59.4% of the 9th cohort's trainees found jobs at related corporations within six months.
◇ The ABC program that raises CEOs' understanding of AI
Ryu said, "Raising CEOs' understanding of AI is just as important as training AI experts," adding, "We created the 'ABC program' for that purpose."
This program focuses on cultivating practical problem-solving skills by having CEOs think through their companies' AI solutions and assign them as missions to ABS trainees.
Ryu said, "Many existing university CEO courses have focused more on 'networking' to build connections than on education," adding, "Our course is completely different. The first things we tell applying CEOs are, 'You have to code yourself,' and 'If you miss a lot of classes, it will be hard to complete the program.'"
The ABC program is held twice a week from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and CEOs learn AI through hands-on practice. Ryu said, "All 30 participants in the second cohort completed the program, and CEO satisfaction is high." A CEO who took part in the ABC program said, "When I told employees to try building something with AI, it was hard to give instructions without knowing the content," adding, "Through the training, I came to properly understand AI and became able to craft company strategy well."
◇ Practical results from AI education… winner of CES Innovation Awards
As word spread that it offers practical AI training, the ABC course has become highly popular. In the fourth cohort, 153 people applied for 30 spots, making for high competition. CEOs from a range of fields applied, from major conglomerate owners to law firm heads, dental clinic directors, and media company chiefs.
Gore Robotics, a graduate of the second cohort, developed an "AI-based construction site materials transport robot" and a "premium residential complex delivery autonomous driving robot" through the ABC course. Gore Robotics showcased these robots at CES 2026 in Las Vegas last month, and the company won three Innovation Awards.
◇ The ABC program expands further with national funding
What sets the ABC program apart from other universities' CEO courses is that it is fully funded by the government. While tuition for CEO programs typically exceeds 10 million won, the ABC program eases the burden on participants as a nationally funded initiative.
Ryu emphasized, "We provide national funding to ensure that leaders of innovative startups, who urgently need to adopt AI technology, are not excluded."
He added, "The technological innovation and job creation driven by CEOs who have become AI experts contribute greatly to the nation and society," and said, "We hope the ABS and ABC programs to cultivate AI talent will spread to regional universities."