Held at Six Venues Including Kimdaejung Convention Center
Three New Demonstration Categories in Future Technologies Such as Industrial Drone Control
Gwangju City announced on September 16 that it will host the 60th National Skills Competition for one week from September 20 to 26. Held under the slogan "Great Jump! Adding Light to Technology," the event will bring together over 13,000 participants, including athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers selected from 17 cities and provinces across the country.
The competition will take place at six venues: Kimdaejung Convention Center, Gwangju Technical High School, Gwangju Electronics Technical High School, Jeonnam Technical High School, Gwangju Science High School, and Gwangju Human Resources Development Center. Participants will compete in a total of 51 categories, including 48 traditional trades such as polymechanics, electrical control, welding, animation, and hair design, as well as three new demonstration categories related to future technologies: industrial drone control, cybersecurity, and mobile app development.
The opening ceremony will be held on September 22 at the Kimdaejung Convention Center, and throughout the competition, each venue will host rigorous judging alongside the matches.
The first-place winner in each category will receive the Minister of Employment and Labor Award and a prize of 10 million won. Those who place first or second in each category will qualify as candidates to represent Korea at the WorldSkills Competition. The city is also looking forward to strong performances from local athletes, with 105 competitors from Gwangju participating in 37 categories to showcase the region's specialized technical skills.
An "Open Stadium" will be set up at the Kimdaejung Convention Center, where all citizens can participate. Various side events will be held, including exhibitions by the Gwangju Skilled Technicians Association and Korea's Master Craftsmen, as well as hands-on experiences in nail art, ceramics, and advanced robotics. There will also be a cheering message tree and a Skills Competition History Wall to provide additional attractions for visitors.
About 200 volunteers, including local university students and members of the volunteer center, will participate in the operation of the competition. They will take on various roles such as guidance, parking, and environmental maintenance, embodying the spirit of a "competition created together with citizens."
This event is jointly hosted by Gwangju City, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and organized by the Korea Committee for WorldSkills and the Gwangju Skills Competition Committee. A budget of 16.9 billion won has been allocated to improve venue facilities and support event operations, ensuring that participants can compete in a safe and comfortable environment.
Mayor Kang Gi-jung personally visited two local Meister high schools-Gwangju Software Meister High School and Gwangju Automation Equipment Meister High School-to encourage athletes and their parents as they prepare for the competition. Kim Young-moon, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Economy, also visited the organizing institutions to check on preparations, making every effort to ensure the event's success.
Mayor Kang stated, "This competition will serve as a stage where skilled professionals from across the nation demonstrate their abilities in Gwangju and grow into talents who will lead the future industry. We will do our utmost to make this a festival of skilled professionals for citizens and a stepping stone for young technicians to advance onto the world stage."
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