**AI PRISM* Customized Economic Briefing**
*Editor's note: 'AI PRISM' (Personalized Report & Insight Summarizing Media) is an AI-based customized news recommendation and summary service developed with support from the Korea Press Foundation. It selects and provides six tailored news items for each reader type.*
[Key Issue Briefing]
LG CNS Large-Scale Recruitment: LG CNS will hire over 100 experienced professionals in core future business areas including AI and robotics in the first half of this year. The company, which has demonstrated an agentic AI-based digital currency automatic payment system with the Bank of Korea and is pursuing large-scale AX projects including NH NongHyup Bank's generative AI platform, stated it plans to recruit "field-ready talent capable of applying cutting-edge technology to industrial sites to create business innovation."
KB Kookmin Bank Workforce Reduction Accelerates: KB Kookmin Bank's employee count fell to the 12,000 level (12,925) for the first time last year, plunging 29.1% from 2007 levels over 18 years. Branch numbers also decreased from 987 to 620 due to mobile banking expansion and full-scale AI transformation (AX). Financial industry observers note that "the more AX is applied to business operations, the more employment will inevitably decline," forecasting accelerated workforce reductions.
MWC 2026 Chinese Robot Technology Offensive: At MWC 2026, China's Honor showcased technological advancement by unveiling a humanoid robot capable of back tumbling and moonwalking, along with a 360-degree rotating camera robot phone. Chinese companies participating in this year's MWC increased 21.5% from last year to 350. A domestic telecom executive assessed that "China's technological advancement speed felt particularly threatening," indicating global robot technology competition is intensifying.
[News for University Students and Job Seekers]
1. "Urgently Seeking AI and Robotics Experienced Professionals" — LG CNS to Hire Over 100
LG CNS will hire over 100 experienced professionals in core future business areas including AI and robotics in the first half of this year. Recruitment areas include AI, robotics, global finance, consulting, data centers, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), and smart factories. Candidates with practical experience and expertise can apply regardless of major or years of experience. LG CNS has demonstrated an agentic AI-based digital currency automatic payment system with the Bank of Korea and is pursuing large-scale AX (AI transformation) projects including NH NongHyup Bank's generative AI platform. The company is also conducting robot technology R&D through its "AI & Robotics R&D Center" in Silicon Valley, USA, and "Future Robotics Lab" in Korea.
2. KB Kookmin Bank Staff Falls to 12,000 Level — AI Transformation Accelerates Workforce Reduction
KB Kookmin Bank's employee count fell to the 12,000 level for the first time last year. As of year-end, the workforce stood at 12,925, down 579 (-4.28%) from a year earlier. Staff numbers have plunged 29.1% over 18 years from 18,235 in 2007. Branches also decreased significantly from 987 in 2007 to 620 at year-end. Workforce reduction is expected to accelerate further due to mobile banking expansion and full-scale AX implementation.
3. Amid Stablecoin Rise, Sungkyunkwan University Launches AI Finance Research Institute
Sungkyunkwan University has newly established an "AI Finance Research Institute" integrating AI and fintech. The move is a preemptive response to financial market changes including the rise of stablecoins. According to market research firm Artemis Analytics, global stablecoin transaction volume exceeded $33 trillion last year. Bloomberg Intelligence forecasts global stablecoin payment volume will reach $56 trillion by 2030. The Democratic Party of Korea's Digital Asset Task Force plans to introduce the Digital Asset Basic Act (second-stage legislation) early this month. Meanwhile, major Korean universities including Korea University, Seoul National University, and Yonsei University are also establishing AI committees and expanding related investments.
[Reference News for University Students and Job Seekers]
4. From Backflips to 360-Degree Auto-Filming Robot Phones — Chinese Tech Offensive
Chinese companies demonstrated threatening evolution in robot technology at MWC 2026. China's Honor unveiled a humanoid robot capable of back tumbling and moonwalking, along with a 360-degree rotating camera robot phone. At the China Telecom booth, Agibot's humanoid robot demonstrated completing Chinese calligraphy in 30 seconds. Chinese companies participating in this year's MWC increased 21.5% to 350 from 288 last year. Korean companies also responded: LG Uplus unveiled robots equipped with AI agent "ixi-O," KT presented robot platform "K-RaaS," and Samsung Electronics showcased AI-based autonomous manufacturing systems.
5. Competition Heats Up in Treatment Market as Lung Function Testing Becomes Mandatory
With pulmonary function testing (PFT) officially introduced to national health screenings this year, pharmaceutical companies are intensifying related treatment development. Citizens aged 56 and 66 now have opportunities to detect respiratory diseases such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) early through screenings. According to market research firm Spherical Insights, Korea's respiratory treatment market is projected to grow from approximately 1.8 trillion won in 2024 to approximately 4.7 trillion won by 2035. Korea United Pharmaceutical targets June launch of asthma and COPD treatment "Cereterol Activair," while Hanmi Pharmaceutical has commenced distribution of COPD treatments under a co-marketing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim.
6. AI Creates Work Plans and Distributes to Agents — KT Launches Customized Models
KT is expanding customized AI implementation business based on B2G (business-to-government) and B2B (business-to-business) transactions. At MWC 2026, KT revealed operational results of the "Judicial Work Support AI Platform" built for the Supreme Court. The platform aims to enhance court administrative productivity by applying AI across judicial operations including similar case analysis, issue extraction, and judgment writing support. KT also demonstrated "Agent Orchestration" functionality that coordinates multiple specialized AI agents through enterprise AX platform "Agentic Fabric." KT also unveiled "K-RAI Assessment" for evaluating AI risk factors, stating it "focused on transforming AI into controllable and executable work entities."
