A study examined irregular workers and vocational education and training (VET) centered on laborers in the Korea's manufacturing industry. The study established that, despite the increasing number of irregular workers in Korea, existing VET programs for them fall far short of those for regular workers. Compared with regular workers, irregular workers have 50% less training time and fewer opportunities to receive training. Although one out of three irregular workers wants more training, most employers have little interest in providing such training. Management generally prefers on-the-job training, whereas labor prefers training by private or public VET institutions. Korean managers and labor do, however, agree that the government should compensate irregular workers for possible wage losses stemming from VET. The following were among the recommendations presented: (1) strengthen legal and institutional frameworks for VET; (2) raise the rate of irregular workers taking out employment insurance; (3) provide greater opportunities for irregular workers with more VET; (4) increase public awareness regarding the need for VET for irregular workers; (5) develop training programs to meet irregular workers' needs, and vary programs' approaches by target audience; and (6) improve employment conditions so that irregular workers can attend VET programs more easily. (Twenty-one tables/figures are included. The bibliography lists 42 references) (MN)