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Thirdly, training a highly skilled workforce and fostering a deep-seated digital
culture.
Post-COVID-19, South Korea has viewed digital workforce training and the
development of a deep-rooted digital culture as fundamental to maintaining its leading
position in the digital economy. The government aims to train 1 million digital workers
between 2022 and 2026 to provide a workforce proficient in digital technology, while
simultaneously promoting a digital culture within businesses and society to enhance
competitiveness. Businesses and the government are investing heavily in high-tech
workforce training and digital skills education to provide a high-quality workforce for the
economy. Training is conducted through free online courses called "Skills Portals, Short-
term training (micro-credentials) in order to quickly fill skill gaps. Collaboration between
universities, technology companies, and the government ensures the program aligns with
real-world needs.
Fourthly, South Korea’s private sector is very dynamic
The South Korean private sector is considered the main driving force behind the
recovery and development of the digital economy. The government has created a
supportive legal and policy framework and large corporations and a dynamic startups
ecosystem directly have integrated digital technology into daily life and production. The
private sector continuously introduces new products and services, from electronic
payments to online learning platforms. Large private technology companies such as
Samsung, LG, SK, and Naver lead in AI research, semiconductors, and digital services.
Samsung leads in chips and smartphones, LG develops display and battery technology,
SK focuses on digital energy and telecommunications. Large technology corporations
(Samsung, LG, SK, Naver) are encouraged to collaborate with startups to expand the
digital ecosystem and create an environment for innovation. Large private technology
companies not only serve the domestic market but also export technology,
strengthening South Korea's position on the global digital economy map. Thanks to its
dynamic private sector, South Korea maintains a competitive edge against the US and
China in the technology sector.
6. Lessons learned for Vietnam
Vietnam is among the top 6 largest digital economy markets in Southeast Asia
(Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). Of these, Vietnam
and Indonesia are two of the fastest-growing digital economy markets compared to other
countries in the region. In terms of e-commerce, Vietnam ranks second only to Indonesia
in market size (surpassing Thailand). Vietnam is also one of the fastest-growing countries
in the world for cross-border e-commerce, with a growth rate of 35% per year, 2.5 times
faster than Japan.
Vietnam has identified the development of e-government, moving towards a digital
government, digital society, and digital economy, as one of its top priorities to create a
solid foundation for comprehensive digital transformation in the (2021-2030) period. The
development of South Korea's digital economy offers Vietnam the following lessons:
Firstly, support and encourage innovation for businesses, especially small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to maximize the power of digital technology.
The lesson from South Korea shows that strong government support with an open
management mindset is essential to "unleash" businesses. The gap in digital technology
adoption between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large, advanced
businesses remains quite significant, leading to several obstacles, such as: i) SMEs often

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