South Korean Gov't Partnership Begins Training 40+ Blockchain Professionals

South Korea has begun a six-month training course to turn forty-two applicants into "Blockchain specialists," local media report Monday, September 3.

Aiming to increase the availability of skilled professionals in South Korea's burgeoning blockchain economy, the course is the result of a three-way partnership between the Ministry of Technology and ICT, the Korean Standards Association and the Hong Kong-based blockchain and IoT startup Waltonchain.

The course will focus on preparing participants for "Immediate" employment upon completion in January 2019.

"We will provide a one-stop support for employment and business start-ups as well as education for the professional training of employees, and we will strengthen the building of a healthy blockchain ecosystem," KI News quotes Wang Sang Hyeong, secretary general of the Waltonchain as saying.

The move forms part of a giant investment program from the South Korean government which extends beyond 2023.

As Cointelegraph reported, investment in blockchain and related innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence is set to surpass $4.4 billion next year.

A broad government-sponsored youth training project is also ongoing, with officials explaining the need to fill gaps in the emerging innovation sector while at the same time tackling unemployment.

In November a state-enabled blockchain hackathon will award prizes to dedicated teams who demonstrate new use cases for the technology.