Gwangju City Successfully Attracts the 60th National Skills Competition

To Be Held at Kim Dae-jung Center and More from September 20-26 Next Year
18,000 Participants Including Cybersecurity and Auto Maintenance
Regional Economic Boost Expected with Linked Archery Event

Sanggap Lee, Deputy Mayor of Gwangju for Culture and Economy, is waving the competition flag after receiving it at the closing ceremony of the 59th National Skills Competition held last August at the Park Chunghee Gymnasium in Gumi, Gyeongbuk. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City has successfully secured the hosting rights for the National Skills Competition, a grand festival for skilled technicians. On the 26th, Gwangju City announced that it will host the 60th National Skills Competition, which will take place in September next year.

The National Skills Competition, which aims to discover outstanding skilled technicians and boost morale, began with the first Seoul event in 1966 and has since become the largest annual technical festival in Korea. Gwangju City will host the event for the fourth time, following previous events in 1980, 1992, and 2009, returning after 16 years.

The 60th National Skills Competition will be held for seven days from September 20 to 26 next year at six venues, including Kimdaejung Convention Center, Gwangju Technical High School, Electronic Technical High School, Jeonnam Technical High School, and Gwangju Science High School. The event is hosted by Gwangju City, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, and organized by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea and the Gwangju Skills Competition Committee.

The competition will feature participants who have earned the right to compete by achieving outstanding results in local skills competitions across cities and provinces. Around 18,000 people, including athletes from 17 regions nationwide, coaches, event officials, and volunteers, are expected to participate.

Top skilled professionals from 50 fields, such as industrial drone control, industrial robotics, mechatronics, mobile robotics, cloud computing, game development, web design and development, cybersecurity, automobile maintenance, welding, hair design, and cooking, will gather to compete in their respective skills.

Those who place in the top three will receive certificates, medals, and prize money of up to 10 million won. Winners in each field will be exempt from the practical exam for the industrial engineer certification in their respective areas. In particular, they will also receive various benefits, including eligibility to participate in the selection trials for the national team for the International Skills Olympics.

The city expects the competition to bring various positive effects, such as revitalizing the local economy, nurturing skilled talent, and enhancing social awareness of skilled trades. The influx of athletes and visitors during the event is anticipated to invigorate the local economy, and the nurturing of skilled talent at local vocational high schools and technical education institutions is expected to become even more active.

Additionally, by linking the event with various other events such as the Chungjang Festival, Gwangju Design Biennale, and World Archery Championships, the city expects to further enhance the value of the 'Gwangju city brand' through the successful hosting of the competition.

Lee Sanggap, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy, said, "The National Skills Competition is more than just a technical contest; it is an opportunity for talented individuals to pursue their dreams and take on new challenges," and added, "We will do our best to ensure the successful hosting of this event."