SK Group plans to select about 50 young adults for a two-year, full-time AI problem-solving programme, paying each 3 million won a month. The unusual offer is not a degree or a job guarantee, but a paid route to learning by doing.
Watch Desk analysis
What happened
The programme, named SK Aigen, is open to applicants aged 19 to 34 who can commit to full-time participation. Participants will work on AI-powered projects in the first year, then gain practical experience shaped around their career goals and project plans in the second.
Applications are due from 1 to 15 November, with selections expected by the end of December. The first cohort is scheduled to start in March 2027. SK says participants will receive training, mentoring and workspace, with Seoul National University’s AI Institute helping them develop insights from the humanities and map out career paths.
The Korea JoongAng Daily reports that selection will focus mainly on applicants’ commitment to solving problems and potential for growth, rather than academic qualifications or field of study. The article says it was translated from Korean with generative AI assistance and reviewed by an English-language editor.
Why it matters
A monthly stipend of 3 million won, about US$2,250, makes this more than a short AI course: SK is asking participants to spend two years working on real-world problems. The programme could appeal to people who want hands-on experience without enrolling in a degree, while the lack of a promised job leaves the eventual value to be demonstrated.
Its design also makes a bet about how AI skills are built. Rather than teach subjects first and leave students to find an application, Aigen plans to make problem-solving the classroom. That is a compelling premise. The interesting test will be what participants actually learn, and whether the projects lead anywhere beyond a polished programme brochure.
Our read
This is a substantial skills initiative with unusually clear terms: roughly 50 places, full-time for two years, and a monthly stipend. For eligible applicants, the dates and commitment are the practical details to weigh. The open question is whether the experience and mentoring will translate into useful skills and opportunities when the programme offers neither a degree nor guaranteed employment.
What to watch
- Whether SK publishes application details and how it assesses candidates’ commitment and potential.
- What projects participants work on during the first year.
- Whether SK shares outcomes from the first cohort, including skills gained and career paths taken.
Discussion spark: Should employers fund paid, hands-on AI training without offering a degree or a job at the end, or should they be expected to provide a clearer qualification or employment route?
Sources and evidence
- Source update (12 October 2026, 08:40 UTC)
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