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A recent study from the Bank of Korea revealed that nearly four million jobs in South Korea could be jeopardized by the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the next two decades.
The rapid progression of AI has sparked global concerns ranging from potential job losses to cybersecurity threats and the fear of humans losing control over the systems they create.
The study identified 3.9 million jobs in South Korea, particularly in professions such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, and chemists, that are susceptible to replacement as domestic AI adoption continues to grow. According to the report, high-income workers with extensive academic backgrounds face a higher risk of being replaced by AI, with white-collar jobs being particularly vulnerable due to the technology’s ability to perform analytic and cognitive tasks.
On a positive note, the study highlighted that individuals in religious fields, food services, and teaching are less likely to lose their jobs to advancing technology. While AI poses a threat to existing employment, it also opens up new opportunities, especially for engineers involved in the development and maintenance of AI systems, as well as those working in AI-related start-ups.
However, the report cautioned that the new job opportunities are concentrated in specific fields, potentially causing challenges for workers transitioning into these roles due to the introduction of AI technology. Despite the potential disruptions, the Bank of Korea acknowledged the dual nature of AI’s impact on employment, posing both challenges and opportunities for the South Korean workforce.