MZ세대, 몸 쓰는 일에 뛰어들다! ㅣ KBS 다큐 인사이트 - 역전의 블루칼라 251113 방송

KBS Documentary Insight - Blue Collar: A Turnaround The MZ Generation Embarks on Physical Work Irreplaceable Even in the AI ​​Era: Technology Shines at Your Fingertips Hear the Lively Voices of Blue Collar Workers, the Backbone of Korean Industry "Blue collar" refers to manual laborers engaged in production. In 2025, 100 years after the term first appeared in a California daily newspaper, the world of work in Korea is rapidly changing. Once considered a byword for simple labor and categorized as one of the "3D" industries—difficult, dirty, and dangerous—blue collar workers are now being re-evaluated as specialized, technical positions. "Blue collar" used to distinguish between "white collar" and "highly educated, high-paying" office jobs, distinguishing skilled workers performing physical labor on-site. With the advent of industrialization, the term "blue collar" has long been associated with a negative image, representing dangerous and difficult work. However, amidst social structural changes such as an aging population, educational inflation, and the spread of artificial intelligence, the value of blue collar work is rapidly resurfacing. Blue collar work is no longer simply a job classification; its meaning is expanding to encompass core technologies that drive industry and skilled labor that will support the future. Generation MZ Enters Physical Work In recent years, the number of young people entering physical work has steadily increased. This is due to a growing trend toward viewing blue collar jobs as specialized skills rather than mere livelihood labor. "These days, I prefer places with a lot of trash. Because the more dirt there is, the more people need us." Lee Chang-hyun / 7-Year Veteran in the Cleaning Industry Lee Chang-hyun, a former athlete, has been running a cleaning business for seven years since quitting sports. For Lee, who lacked a prestigious education or a track record to boast about, physical work presented a new opportunity. Lee Chang-hyun is experiencing the value of his profession firsthand by taking on tasks that others avoid. "As my body adapted, I found it enjoyable. I enjoy learning, and I also enjoy building this house myself." Lee Woo-jin / 3rd Year Wallpaperer Born in 2001, Lee Woo-jin, a 3rd year wallpaperer, dropped out of college and began learning wallpapering. He felt a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in completing something with his own hands, rather than the sense of disappointment he felt in college. There's a growing influx of young people seeking to learn manual labor. They're forging their own paths through hands-on experience and discovering the value and joy of field-based technical work. *Irreplaceable even in the AI ​​(Artificial Intelligence) Era: Technology Shining at Your Fingertips "They say AI (Artificial Intelligence) will do everything in the future. But this (fingertip) technology can't be done by AI (Artificial Intelligence). This is something only humans can do." Taehyun Lee / Plasterer with 37 Years of Experience In an era where the massive technological innovation of artificial intelligence is shaking up the entire profession, questions are being raised about what only humans can do. Lee Taehyun, a plasterer with 37 years of experience, a technician who decorates building exteriors, recently encountered the boundaries between technology and humanity at work. However, as a highly skilled worker with years of experience honed through his fingertips, he is convinced that his job cannot be replaced. He believes that while automation and artificial intelligence may replace material calculations, machines cannot replicate the tactile sensations and intuitive judgments of his own hands. "The incredibly disruptive technological innovation of artificial intelligence is now entering our work and industry faster than we expected." Lee Woo-young / Chairman, Human Resources Development Institute of Korea "Repetitive tasks are highly likely to be replaced by AI (artificial intelligence), but blue-collar jobs that require highly sophisticated manual skills or human physical activity are difficult to replace with AI (artificial intelligence)." Kim Dong-gyu / Research Fellow, Korea Employment Information Service According to the "Report Assessing the Risk of Job Replacement by AI," white-collar jobs are at a higher risk of being replaced by AI. Conversely, blue-collar jobs that require sophisticated manual skills and other human physical activities are considered difficult to replace by AI (artificial intelligence). *Hearing the Lively Voices of Blue-Collar Workers, the Backbone of Korean Industry "In my view, a blue-collar worker is someone who understands the value of hard work. I believe only those who understand that value can do this job." Go Yoon-hoo / 5th-Year Veteran Stonemason Go Yoon-hoo, a former actor who has been working in stone masonry for five years, is satisfied with his income, but he says his work i...