Users will now be able to check national qualification exam schedules, overseas job postings and National Competency Standards (NCS) information in real time through generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude. Even without knowing the precise name of a qualification or the relevant administrative terminology, users can ask questions in everyday language and receive answers drawn from official data held by the Korea Human Resources Development Service, known as HRD Korea.
HRD Korea said Tuesday it is launching a service called "HRDKorea MCP" that allows generative AI to query the agency's public data in real time and respond accordingly. MCP, or Model Context Protocol, is a protocol that enables AI models to connect with external data sources and work systems in a standardized way, allowing them to retrieve the information they need.
The agency selected more than 60 core APIs from the 229 it currently makes publicly available and developed them into MCP-compatible tools. A total of 41 functions are now accessible across six project areas: national qualification exams, overseas employment support, NCS, process-evaluation and work-learning parallel qualifications, skilled-technician promotion, and foreign worker employment support.
The agency also simplified the access process. Anyone can use the service around the clock simply by registering the agency's MCP server address in a generative AI tool such as ChatGPT or Claude — no authentication key or membership registration required.
Once connected, users can search for exam schedules, fees and pass rates, as well as overseas job listings and settlement support grants. The service can also recommend suitable occupations or qualifications tailored to a user's circumstances based on NCS frameworks.
Previously, users often needed to know the exact name of a qualification or related administrative terms to find the information they were looking for. With MCP, users can ask in plain language and the AI will query the agency's database to deliver qualification, training and employment information within one minute.
The agency said the service also helps reduce so-called "hallucinations" — instances where general-purpose generative AI fabricates inaccurate content by relying solely on its own training data. Grounding responses in real-time official data from the agency's database improves the accuracy and reliability of the information provided.
HRD Korea has also built an operations and monitoring system capable of analyzing user queries and tracking usage by function. The agency plans to continuously expand the functions available through MCP based on actual usage patterns.
"We hope many people will use AI to access the agency's public data in real time," HRD Korea President Lee Byung-hoon said. "We will continue to lead service innovation that people can feel in their daily lives by opening up accurate and trustworthy public data."
fact0514@heraldcorp.com
