South Korea labor ministry announces HRDKorea AI public-data service

South Korea's labor ministry said Tuesday that the Human Resources Development Service of Korea has launched HRDKorea MCP, allowing generative AI systems to retrieve the agency's public data in real time.

MCP is a protocol that connects AI models to external data and operational systems in a standardized way. The service offers 41 tools across six areas, including qualification exams, overseas employment support, job skills standards and foreign employment, and connects 69 of the agency's 229 public-data application programming interfaces.

Users need only register the agency's MCP server address, https://openapi.hrdkorea.or.kr/mcp, with a compatible generative AI service; no authentication key, account sign-up or separate installation is required. The service operates around the clock. Users can check qualification-exam schedules, fees and pass rates, search overseas job listings and settlement grants, or receive job and qualification recommendations based on skills standards. ChatGPT can connect through its paid PC web service, while Claude is available through its paid or free PC web service or desktop app. Mobile users cannot register the service.

Previously, users needed to know exact test names or administrative terms to search the data. They can now ask everyday-language questions and receive qualification, training and hiring information within one minute. The agency says its database will provide real-time official data and prevent inaccurate guidance caused by AI hallucinations.

The agency has set up a monitoring system to analyze user questions and calls by function, and plans to expand its features based on usage. "We hope many people will use the agency's public data through AI in real time," Lee Byung-hoon, the agency's chairman, said. "We will continue to lead service innovation that the public can experience by opening reliable, accurate public data."