AI Displaces Teaching Assistants, Junior Lawyers - 조선일보

Youth employment in South Korea fell by 208,000 positions in March 2026 compared to the same period last year, with AI adoption cited as a key factor in the education and legal sectors. A Seoul National University professor stated that AI allows the university to process student assignments instantly and answer student questions 24/7 via a chatbot trained on course materials, reducing the number of teaching assistants by one-third. In the legal sector, firms reported deploying AI to handle document review and case law research, leading to cuts in junior lawyer hiring.

The drop is concentrated among workers aged 15-29, according to the National Statistical Office data. Labour groups argue that employers are using AI to justify permanent staffing reductions rather than to augment workers. Government officials acknowledged the trend but emphasised that South Korea must continue to invest in AI to maintain national competitiveness in the global market, pointing to a forthcoming AI workforce training programme budget request.

Other sectors affected include customer service, with AI call-routing systems at major telecom companies, and basic accounting, where automation of bookkeeping has reduced entry-level roles. Analysts warn that without comprehensive social safety nets and reskilling initiatives, the job displacement trend could accelerate. The Ministry of Employment and Labour said it is reviewing employer support measures, though specifics were not provided.