Choi Seungbok, a graduate of Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, who has grown by experiencing specialized high school, university, and the industrial field through the Technical Meister Training Project supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Busan Metropolitan City, is drawing attention.
Choi Seungbok, a graduate of Dong-Eui Institute of Technology who served as a bridge between schools and industry. Provided by Dong-Eui Institute of Technology
While attending Busan Technical High School in 2018, Choi Seungbok participated in the Technical Meister Training Project, where he developed his capabilities by gaining various hands-on experiences and specialized knowledge.
Determined to "learn technical skills at a junior college and find employment quickly," he entered the Department of Mechanical Design at Dong-Eui Institute of Technology in 2019. He consecutively obtained the process-based Mechanical Design Industrial Engineer and Computer-Aided Machining Industrial Engineer certifications, further enhancing his expertise in mechanical design.
Based on his consistent effort and sincerity, in March 2021, he joined Daedong Gyecheuk, a partner company of the Technical Meister Project, as an industrial skilled personnel. There, he gained practical field experience while simultaneously enrolling in the advanced bachelor's degree program at his alma mater, balancing both work and study.
Choi Seungbok did not stop there. In March 2023, he took another leap forward in technology development by entering the master's program in the contract department at Dong-A University, supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Notably, he conducted research on optimizing the manufacturing process of vibration strain gauges, making significant contributions to solving technical challenges faced by the partner company. He earned his master's degree in 2025 with this research, which is regarded as a representative case of bridging academia and industry.
Initially, he mainly handled production and measurement tasks to build practical skills, but through the advanced bachelor's and master's programs, he was able to grow into a research talent needed by the company.
Furthermore, the field-oriented learning and diverse hands-on experiences that began in specialized high school, along with the theoretical foundation gained at university, have become the driving force for Choi Seungbok's ambition to pursue a doctoral degree in the future.
Noh Heejong, CEO of Daedong Gyecheuk and Chairman of the Korea Disaster Safety Industry Technology Research Association, said, "At first, I thought of him as just an ordinary field worker when he joined. However, by handling both production and measurement tasks, we were able to quantify the empirical data accumulated by the company and seize a great opportunity to improve the existing vibration sensor manufacturing process. I believe these activities are a true model of practical industry-academia cooperation. I look forward to collaborating on the ongoing buoyancy-type water barrier project and achieving results together."
Choi Seungbok said, "The major education at the specialized high school, the support from the Technical Meister Training Project, and the field experience through university-industry cooperation projects have helped me solidify my career path. I want to continue researching and become a talent who contributes to the advancement of the domestic manufacturing industry."
The Technical Meister Training Project at Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, which has focused on nurturing practical talents that meet the needs of the local community and industry, is proving its success through cases like Choi Seungbok, who possesses expertise, hands-on experience, and academic competence. His challenge to pursue a doctoral degree and conduct deeper research is serving as a model case for nurturing technical talent, inspiring many juniors and the industry.
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