Busan Office of Education, 39 Winners at the 59th National Skills Competition

23 Categories: 2 Gold, 8 Silver, 7 Bronze, 6 Excellence, 16 Encouragement Awards

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Ha Yoonsoo) announced on the 5th that out of 94 student athletes who participated in the 59th National Skills Competition held in the Gyeongsangbuk-do area from the 24th to the 30th of last month, 39 students received awards.

This competition, which selects the country's top skilled professionals, saw 1,641 participants from 17 cities and provinces competing in 50 trades.

From Busan’s vocational high schools, 94 students competed in 34 trades, winning medals in 23 trades: 2 gold, 8 silver, 7 bronze, 6 excellence awards, and 16 encouragement awards.

Among them, Busan Mechanical Technical High School produced a gold medalist in the piping category, while Geumsaem High School produced a gold medalist in the electrical equipment category.

Additionally, Busan Mechanical Technical High School won silver medals in industrial electronics, refrigeration technology, mechatronics, piping, and welding. Gyeongnam Technical High School won a silver medal in mobile robotics, and Busan Automotive Technical High School won a silver medal in automobile body repair.

Busan Mechanical Technical High School was designated as an excellent athlete training institution for the seventh consecutive year, earning 1 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze, 2 excellence, and 3 encouragement awards, and following last year's second-place (Silver Tower) finish with another second-place finish this year.

Students who won awards in trades linked to Skills Competition Committee partner companies, such as industrial electronics and mechatronics, are expected to be employed by those companies after graduation. Students who placed first and second in each category will have the opportunity to represent South Korea in the International Skills Olympics after going through the national team selection process.

Ha Yoonsoo, Superintendent of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "I am proud of the vocational high school students who are working hard toward their dreams," and added, "The Office of Education will continue to provide support for nurturing outstanding skilled professionals in cooperation with Busan City, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, and other related organizations."