First cohort of AI trade talent program graduates

629 youth trainees, 88 company representatives take part

Participation nearly doubles cohort average

Second cohort to expand to 11 universities nationwide in second half

KOTRA officials and graduates pose for a photo at the agency's headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, during the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of the 2026 AI Trade Talent Development Program on May 28. [KOTRA]
KOTRA officials and graduates pose for a photo at the agency's headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, during the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of the 2026 AI Trade Talent Development Program on May 28. [KOTRA]

As AI adoption spreads rapidly across export marketing, KOTRA has produced 717 new trade professionals equipped with practical AI-based overseas marketing skills.

Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) held the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of its 2026 AI Trade Talent Development Program at its Seocho-gu headquarters in Seoul on May 28, the agency announced Monday. The ceremony drew 717 participants — including KOTRA Executive Vice President and AI Trade and Investment Division head Ahn Young-ju, youth trainees and representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) — attending both in person and online.

The program paired young trainees with SMEs to carry out real export marketing tasks, giving participants hands-on experience rather than classroom instruction alone.

A total of 717 people took part in the first cohort this year — 629 youth trainees and 88 company representatives. That is nearly double the average cohort size of roughly 380 recorded since the program launched in 2023 through last year. KOTRA attributed the growth to converging demand: SMEs seeking to expand overseas sales channels through AI, and young people eager to build digital trade skills.

KOTRA plans to train 5,000 digital trade professionals by next year. The program appeals to both sides, the agency said — exporters can pursue AI-driven content creation and buyer outreach without hiring dedicated staff, while youth trainees gain real overseas marketing experience working with actual company products.

The nine-week curriculum ran from April 2. Participants used KOTRA's "AI Export Secretary" system — currently in pilot operation ahead of a planned official launch later this year — to conduct overseas market research. They also completed hands-on exercises using generative AI tools such as Gemini and ChatGPT to produce short-form promotional content in foreign languages and generate product images.

Trainees then listed products on BuyKorea, KOTRA's B2B platform, and ran targeted marketing campaigns aimed at overseas buyers through social media platforms including Meta and LinkedIn. A defining feature of the program was its extension beyond training into actual buyer prospecting, directly supporting SMEs' real-world export marketing efforts.

The first cohort also added a module focused on the Chinese market, covering Chinese-language social media and TikTok marketing strategies tailored to regional platform characteristics.

Kim Seung-hyun, executive director of toy manufacturer Edubricks, which participated in the trainee matching program, said the combination of young people's fresh ideas and AI marketing tools helped the company cut costs and time while opening new overseas sales channels. He added that he would recommend the program to other SMEs that lack dedicated marketing staff.

KOTRA will expand the second cohort in the second half of the year, partnering with 11 universities across the country — Gangwon National University, Keimyung University, Dankook University, Suwon University, Inha University, Chonnam National University, Jeju National University, Changwon National University, Chungnam National University, Hansei University and Hoseo University — to build AI trade capabilities among regional youth. The agency said the university partnerships carry added significance by extending digital trade education beyond the Greater Seoul area.

Youth trainees and SMEs interested in joining the second cohort can apply through KOTRA's Trade and Investment 24 website in August.

"AI is becoming an indispensable tool on the export front for cutting costs and boosting results," Ahn said. "We will help young people who have mastered AI technology become the driving force in global employment and entrepreneurship, while supporting SMEs by combining AI export marketing tools with on-the-ground services from KOTRA's overseas trade offices to maximize their export impact."


kwater@heraldcorp.com