Gyeongnam Province Selects Two Top Artisans of the Year

Master craftsman Jeong Chi-hwan of Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and foreman Lim Chang-sik of Firstec Co., Ltd. (Photo by Gyeongsangnam-do)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] Gyeongnam Province announced on the 2nd that Jeong Chi-hwan, a foreman at Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., and Lim Chang-sik, a foreman at Firstec Co., Ltd., were selected as the top masters of 2020.

Jeong Chi-hwan (52), who has 34 years of experience in shipbuilding, holds 3 patents and 4 utility models, including a ventilation device for sealed ship compartments.

He was recognized for excellence by reducing costs through quality and process improvements in the workplace and was selected as the top master in the shipbuilding and aviation fields.

Lim Chang-sik (52), with 30 years of experience in aircraft maintenance and manufacturing, handles tasks such as measurement, repair, and adjustment of various aircraft systems including fire extinguishing systems.

He has been active as a professor in the Korean Industrial Field Professors Group, transferring technology to small and medium enterprises, and was recognized for his participation in developing and improving NCS learning modules in the aircraft body manufacturing field, leading to his selection as the top master in the shipbuilding and aviation fields.

The province received applications from 14 candidates across 12 occupations in 6 fields to select this year’s top masters, and after document screening and on-site inspections, selected 2 masters.

Since the establishment of the 'Gyeongsangnam-do Ordinance on Preferential Treatment and Support for Skilled Workers' in 2007, Gyeongsangnam-do has been the first metropolitan local government nationwide to implement this and has produced 66 top masters to date.

The top masters receive a certificate and a bronze plaque, along with an annual incentive of 1 million KRW for five years.

Jung Soon-geon, Director of the Labor Policy Division of Gyeongnam Province, said, “Gyeongnam Province will strive to boost the morale of skilled technicians and create an atmosphere where technology is valued.”

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