We’ve all seen AI headlines lately, but when they start affecting real jobs—*our jobs*—things suddenly feel a lot more personal, don’t they? This time, it’s not some vague industry trend. It’s a real decision from one of Korea’s biggest tech giants: Kakao.
Recently, Kakao announced an internal HR guideline telling teams not to hire new employees for roles that AI can do.
Yep, you read that right. If AI can handle the job, don’t hire a human for it.
This isn’t just a one-off decision either. It’s the first official move from a major Korean company openly embracing AI-driven workforce restructuring.
And given how fast AI’s developing, this feels like a turning point—not just for Kakao, but for the entire tech industry here.
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For the past couple of years, we’ve all heard murmurs—
“Hiring’s slowing down,”
“Too many juniors, not enough openings,”
“Bootcamp grads having a tough time...”
But now? It’s official.
Kakao’s internal announcement lays it out clearly:
“If AI can do the job, don’t assign new headcount.”
They even said they won’t approve *any new positions* for such roles.
That’s more than a hiring freeze. That’s a structural shift.
This is the first real sign that the job landscape we’ve known is already being rewritten—by algorithms.
## Junior Developer Hiring Is Already Declining—Here’s the Data
Let’s be real—junior developer hiring has been slowing for a while now.
Back in 2023, there were about 995 job postings for entry-level dev roles.
That dropped to 684 in 2024, and now in 2025? Just 564.
And get this: new grads only make up 4.4% of all hiring in the Korean IT sector right now 😳
Now that Kakao is formally saying “Don’t hire where AI can work,”
it’s likely other companies will start doing the same—just less publicly for now.
This is bad news, especially for career switchers or recent bootcamp graduates.
## AI’s Getting Smarter—Faster Than We Expected
Let’s not pretend we haven’t seen this coming...
From ChatGPT to GitHub Copilot to Claude—AI tools can already write functional code, generate test cases, even plan features.
So what happens next?
Companies start thinking, “If a bot can do 80% of the job, why pay someone a full salary?”
In departments focused on repetitive dev tasks or bug fixing, this logic hits *hard*.
We’re not just talking automation anymore. We’re talking full-on role replacement.
## Not Just “No Hiring”—But No Headcount at All
What really caught attention in Kakao’s announcement was this line:
“No new headcount for AI-replaceable roles.”
That’s not just a hiring pause—it’s removing the role from the org chart entirely 😬
It means juniors will have fewer chances to even *start* gaining experience.
And that makes entering tech even harder—especially for those just getting started.
It’s not a freeze. It’s a shrinking ladder.
## Efficiency Sounds Nice… Until It Replaces You
AI boosts efficiency, automates routine tasks, makes teams “leaner.”
That all sounds good on paper—until you realize it also means fewer people doing the work.
Even if mass layoffs aren’t happening right now,
this move shows us how hiring *will* change long-term.
Less entry-level work = fewer opportunities to get your foot in the door.
## So, What Should We Focus On Now?
Here’s the silver lining:
There are still things AI can’t replace—yet.
Skills like critical thinking, creative problem-solving, strategic planning, and cross-team collaboration?
All still very human.
Rather than out-coding the bots, we need to learn how to work alongside them.
Understanding when, why, and how to use AI tools is now a key skill.
The future belongs to those who know how to lead, not just execute.
## Is This a Kakao Problem—Or a New Industry Standard?
This isn’t just Kakao being “extra.”
It aligns with broader trends we’re seeing across Korean tech and even globally.
Companies are investing more in AI infrastructure and less in human labor—especially for predictable, low-complexity tasks.
What once felt like a slow transformation is now happening faster than most of us expected.
And if you're in your 30s—building your career, thinking about upskilling or changing jobs—
this is your sign to pay *very* close attention. 👀
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