The government will expand the number of vocational high school students from the current 600 to 1,000 by 2012 in a bid to meet the demand for more manufacturing workers.

Young job seekers avoid manufacturing jobs because of their poor working conditions and relatively low compensation. As a result, nearly 55 percent of workers in manufacturing are over 40 years old and the industry is desperately in need of more young, skilled workers.

To improve quality in the working environment and in products, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Small and Medium Business Administration will inject over US$20 million and $14 million respectively.

The investments include facilities renovation such as enlarging complexes that will contain multiple factories and boosting the number of talented workers.

Experts say Korea's advanced IT technology will also provide major contributions in improving quality in areas such as semi-permanent mold and precision sand casting technologies, resulting in a higher degree of dimensional accuracy.

Through various benefits and support the government plans to double the number of manufacturing firms from the current 800 by 2013.