AI researchers in South Korea can serve in a lab, not the army.
South Korea's science ministry named nine company research institutes on Monday as alternative service posts. Men with a master's or doctorate in AI can work there for three years instead of serving. The route offers about 120 company places a year and had been shut since 2013. Places start in 2027, and the manpower agency still has to approve each institute's quota.
Why it mattersFor a Korean AI graduate this decides three years of their twenties. Countries now compete for researchers with rules, not only with salaries.
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