The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association is conducting the "Excellent Semiconductor Companies University Visit Roadshow," visiting universities to reach undergraduates and master's and doctoral students majoring in semiconductors. This campus recruiting program was established to alleviate the labor shortage faced by semiconductor companies, facilitate the recruitment of specialized personnel at the master's and doctoral levels, and raise awareness of the semiconductor industry among the youth.

Despite being the nation's representative industry, there have been voices within the semiconductor sector complaining about a lack of smooth workforce supply. This is because talent is concentrated in only a few large corporations, such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Furthermore, while recruitment itself is difficult, there is a growing need for a more meticulous approach to the hiring process to minimize mismatches, where approximately 39% of new hires quit within one year of joining.

The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association is visiting university and graduate students together with excellent small and medium-sized semiconductor companies, rather than meeting job seekers at job fairs. They are holding meetings between semiconductor companies, faculty advisors, and master's and doctoral students to engage in full-scale industry-academia exchange.

Nam Ki-man, Executive Vice President of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, stated, "Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are not the entirety of South Korea's semiconductor industry." In Korea's semiconductor industry, there are various excellent small and medium-sized enterprises, and venture companies and startups are also emerging.

The roadshow consists of two parts. Part 1 begins with a special lecture for undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering on the "Current Status and Prospects of the Semiconductor Industry" by a highly experienced professional with extensive experience in semiconductor companies. Part 2 focuses on master's and doctoral students majoring in semiconductors, introducing their advisors, research fields, and current status to companies, followed by a Q&A session with the semiconductor firms. This serves as the first step in the subsequent recruitment process.

This year, the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association is focusing its efforts on expanding both the quantity and quality of semiconductor human resources. While Korea is a global leader in memory semiconductors, it still has a long way to go in the fields of system semiconductors, design, and materials. This is why the influx of top talent is urgent. Accordingly, the Association is conducting an intensive recruiting program to secure semiconductor talent by visiting universities directly to provide a focused overview of the semiconductor industry's role, future prospects, and vision.