Rethinking training governance in South Korea: a meta-analytical approach to innovative supply models

Purpose This study aims to examine how South Korea’s TVET system is being reconfigured in response to industrial restructuring and demographic change, focusing on the institutionalisation of innovative training supply models and the intermediary governance role of Regional Skills Councils (RSCs). It develops and applies an operational framework for assessing innovation in training supply and governance beyond programme outcomes alone. Design/methodology/approach Using an input–process–output–outcome analytical framework, best-practice initiatives were collected from RSCs and Industrial Skills Councils during 2023–2024 via essay-style survey questionnaires and screened through independent expert ratings. Seventeen regional and sectoral initiatives (mean rating ≥ 3.0) were mapped to a multi-domain indicator framework and synthesised through thematic analysis. Findings Four recurring pillars of innovation were identified: adaptability to industry needs; learner-centred design; collaboration and feedback-based governance; and outcome- and impact-oriented evaluation. Evidence was most consistently documented in planning and process domains – particularly workforce–demand alignment, cross-actor coordination and structured feedback loops – while micro-level instructional modalities and longer term outcomes were less frequently traceable in case narratives. Originality/value The study offers a replicable indicator-based framework and shows that innovation claims concentrate on administratively legible process indicators, consistent with legitimacy-seeking, incremental reform. It also points to the need to strengthen competency assessment and follow-up tracking to evidence skills application, sustained outcomes and cross-region comparability.