Students of Chungbuk Semiconductor High School attend a class on semiconductors.CHUNGBUK SEMICONDUCTOR HIGH SCHOOL
Korea's thriving semiconductor industry is driving demand for specialized vocational high schools that prepare the next generation of chip workers.
The surge in interest is already reshaping the admission season. Chungbuk Semiconductor High School, Korea's first semiconductor-focused Meister school, has upgraded its July 10 admissions information session from a conference room to a 300-seat auditorium after inquiries more than tripled this year.
A Meister school is a type of vocational high school in Korea designed specifically to train highly skilled professionals who can enter the work force immediately after graduation.
"This is the first time we've held our first-semester admissions session in the auditorium," said Baek Jong-in, the school's head of academic affairs. "I expect the campus will be packed with [prospective] parents' cars."
The school was featured in The New York Times on June 26. The article highlighted the school's dormitory, which houses all its students, and its six semiconductor training labs equipped with university-level simulation facilities. The article also introduced Korea's approach to developing semiconductor talent.
Among Korea's 58 Meister schools, four specialize in semiconductors: Chungbuk Semiconductor High School, Daegu Semiconductor Meister High School, Chungnam Semiconductor Meister High School and Korea Semiconductor High School.
YUN YOUNG
Two more are set to open in the coming years. Seoul Semiconductor High School will open next year, followed by another school in Yongin, Gyeonggi, in 2028.
Interest has been so intense that the Yongin Office of Education recently launched a dedicated section on its website for the upcoming semiconductor high school.
Chungbuk Semiconductor High SchoolKIM MIN-SANG
Officials compiled answers to frequently asked questions, such as information about the admissions process and post-grad job prospects at semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, after reportedly receiving more than 20 calls a day from prospective parents. The Yongin Office of Education plans to host an admissions information session in the coming August or September.
Suwon Hi-Tech High School, which trains students in robotics and automated manufacturing systems and is located near the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, has also seen admissions inquiries more than double compared with a year earlier. Many of its graduates go on to work for major companies such as Samsung Electronics or semiconductor equipment manufacturers.
"These days, we even get calls asking whether college graduates can apply [to go to this high school]," a school representative said.
The publishing industry has also joined the trend by publishing a growing number of study guides that compile aptitude test questions used in recruitment by semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Interior view of Line 15 at Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor plant in Hwaseong, GyeonggiSAMSUNG ELECTRONICS
Most vocational high school graduates apply for manufacturing or equipment maintenance positions, jobs that industry experts say will continue to be needed in the semiconductor industry.
"Automation may reduce the number of manufacturing jobs that involve making products by hand, but there will always be demand for workers who can maintain and repair expensive semiconductor equipment," said Jang Yong-gyu, a former principal of Suwon Hi-Tech High School who spent 28 years as an engineer at Samsung Group. "If Meister high schools continue updating their curriculum to keep pace with changes in manufacturing technology, they could become schools that attract attention from around the world."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
