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The End of the Large Corporation Myth and the Arrival of ‘Lightweight Civilization’: What Is Your Survival Strategy?

If you clicked this post, you must have already felt that something is off. The phrase “My goal is to join Samsung Electronics” has become a thing of the past, colleagues around you are resigning in droves, and even department heads in their 40s and 50s are facing pressure for voluntary retirement. This ‘special report’ delivered by Dr. Song Gil-young is not just a simple economic forecast. It covers why companies will no longer protect you, how AI will replace your position, and strategies to build your ‘stronghold’ that you must prepare immediately to survive. If you don’t read this to the end, you might get lost in the approaching massive typhoon. Now, I will explain this brutal reality in great detail.

1. The Great Transition from Heavyweight Civilization to ‘Lightweight Civilization’

The era we have lived in until now was a ‘Heavyweight Civilization.’ We gathered in factories, commuted together, had company dinners, and spent enormous costs to maintain heavy organizations. It was an era where having a large workforce was a source of pride. However, Dr. Song Gil-young has declared that a ‘Lightweight Civilization’ has now arrived.

Now, as production becomes virtualized and collaboration becomes easier, there is no need to gather.There is a shocking example: according to the ‘Lean AI Leaders Board,’ Telegram operates a global service with only 30 members. Furthermore, a company called ‘Base 424’ generated $3 million in revenue with just one employee and was sold for 100 billion KRW.

Now, companies are evaluated not by “how many employees they have” but by “how light and fast they are.” An era has come where individuals can compete with corporations, and small, fast organizations are unconditionally advantageous.

2. The Rapid Evolution of AI and the Collapse of the Job Market

Just a year ago, AI was merely a “fascinating technology.” But in just one year, AI’s IQ test results skyrocketed from under 100 to over 130. What does this mean? It means we can now entrust practical work to AI.

This has completely overturned the landscape of the labor market.

• Disappearance of Entry-Level Hiring: In the past, companies hired fresh graduates and taught them, right? Now, companies do not hire people who say, “I don’t know, please teach me.” AI does that level of work much better. Employment rates for US law school graduates are plummeting, and entry-level tasks like coding or paralegal work are being replaced by AI.
• Preference for Experienced Workers: Companies now only want ‘complete talents.’ A ‘lean season’ has arrived where even the opportunities to gain experience as a junior are disappearing.

3. “A Servant in a Nobleman’s House? No Thanks.” Changed Organizational Culture and Mass Resignations

The old saying, “Even if you live as a servant, do it in a nobleman’s house,” no longer works. Recently, the resignation rate of new employees within one year has surged. Why?

• Organizations are Just Stopovers: In the past, people buried their bones in the company, but now it is a place to gain experience and leave. It is much more advantageous to launder one’s career by changing jobs every 4 to 5 years.
• Rejection of Deferred Compensation: They do not expect, “It will get easier when I get promoted later.” When department heads say, “Back in my day,” and order cleaning, the MZ generation asks back, “Me? Why?” They feel there is no need to accumulate ‘local mileage (internal reputation)’ because they will leave soon anyway.
• Emphasis on Purpose: It is not just about making money; what I achieve through this work and how I change the world has become more important.

4. The ‘Typhoon-Class’ Crisis Facing the 4050 Generation

Is it only a problem for new recruits? No, it is more serious for those in their 40s and 50s. Major conglomerates like LG Group affiliates and Samsung Electronics have drawn their swords, conducting voluntary retirements and management diagnostics.

• Betrayal of the Seniority System: Korea has a strong seniority-based character, so wages increase as years of service accumulate. However, due to AI adoption and organizational lightening, “high-cost, low-efficiency” personnel have become the number one target for layoffs.
• Outdated Workforce: Those who still have the mindset of “You do this” or “Use an abacus instead of Excel”? They will be treated as burdens who cannot collaborate and will be weeded out.
• Difficulty in Re-employment: If tens of thousands pour out at once, there is nowhere to go. Franchise startups? Competition is so fierce that failure is inevitable.

Core Point: Dr. Song Gil-young’s ‘Real’ Warning That News Doesn’t Tell You

This part is truly important. While others just gloss over it saying “AI has developed,” the core point Dr. Song Gil-young mentioned lies in the structural changes of companies and individual survival methods.

1. Companies Are No Longer Social Safety Nets: Companies are busy trying to survive too. If competitors cut costs with AI, I must do the same. The romance of “Let’s protect them because they are our employees” is over. This is not a problem of individual companies but a simultaneous restructuring across all industries, so there is nowhere to hide.
2. Change in the Meaning of CTO (Chief Technology Officer -> Chief Task Officer): In the future, the role isn’t just being a technology executive, but defining ‘Tasks’ and distributing work to AI and humans. Simple management positions will disappear, and only those who can command AI as a tool and master practical work will survive.
3. If You Don’t Build a ‘Stronghold,’ You Die: Opening a fried chicken shop after retirement? Absolutely not. While employed, you must dig deep into your own tastes, skills, and content to become an ‘irreplaceable expert.’
   • Internalization: You must be able to do it yourself without outsourcing.
   • Depth: You must possess delicacy and depth that AI cannot imitate.
   • Personal Branding: You must start preparing right now to work with your own name, not the organization’s business card.

< Summary >

• Arrival of Lightweight Civilization: The ‘Heavyweight Civilization’ centered on huge organizations has ended, and the era of ‘Lightweight Civilization,’ moving with a select few elites through AI and virtualization, has opened. (e.g., Telegram with 30 employees)
• AI and Employment Shock: As AI intelligence explodes, entry-level tasks are automated, hiring of new recruits plummets, and companies only want immediate assets. Warning of rising unemployment in 2025.
• Change in Organizational View: The concept of a lifelong workplace has disappeared. Organizations are merely ‘stopovers’ to gain experience, and individual growth and purpose have become more important.
• Crisis of the 4050 Generation: Middle-aged employees centered on high-wage seniority are the top priority for restructuring. Personnel with low technology acceptance and who are not updated cannot survive.
• Survival Strategy: Do not rely on the organization; you must build your own ‘stronghold (expertise, taste, brand)’ while still employed to prepare for standing alone.

[Related Posts…]
Survival Strategy in the Era of Lightweight Civilization
The Real Reason for Early Resignation of Large Corporation New Recruits

*Source: 지식인사이드

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