Seoul City Seeks 'Technical Artisans' in Urban Manufacturing... From Customized Support to Training Successors

Seoul City Selects 12 Key Figures Shining in Urban Manufacturing
Four Fields: Garment Sewing, Jewelry, Mechanical Metal, Printing
Certification and Up to 2 Million KRW Technology Development Incentive Provided
"Will Expand Support to Honor Local Skilled Technicians"

#. There is a craftsman who has accumulated over 36 years of experience exclusively in the jewelry field. Park Young-sun, CEO of Stone & Gold Yanghaeng, started gemstone processing in 1975 through a family introduction and established Stone & Gold Yanghaeng in 1988, which has been operating for 36 years. Possessing outstanding skilled techniques in gemstone processing and polishing, he contributed to the development of the jewelry industry by serving as a question committee member for the Jewelry Processing Skills Competition organized by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea from 1998 to 1999. He also won the grand prize at the 2020 Korea Precious Metal Craftsmanship Skills Competition. In the same year, he was recognized for these achievements and received a commendation from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy in 2020.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is expanding the 'Excellent Skilled Technician Contest' project, which finds and supports craftsmen who have contributed to the development of skilled techniques in urban manufacturing sites. This aims to create a social atmosphere where local skilled technicians are favored and to enable them to contribute to the development of local communities. Recently, the evaluation criteria have been adjusted to better fit the field, including broadly recognizing the possession of skilled techniques.

On the afternoon of December 27th, at Seosomun 1 Government Building, master technicians selected as outstanding skilled technicians at the '2024 Seoul Outstanding Skilled Technicians Awards Ceremony' are taking a commemorative photo with city officials. Provided by Seoul City

According to Seoul City on the 6th, a total of 12 skilled technicians were selected in four fields?garment sewing (1 person), jewelry (4 persons), machinery and metal (5 persons), and printing (2 persons)?at the recently concluded '2024 Seoul Metropolitan Government Excellent Skilled Technician Awards Ceremony.' These individuals have worked in their respective fields for more than 15 years and have contributed to the development of skilled techniques based on their excellent skills and rich experience. Earlier, Seoul City conducted the excellent skilled technician contest from October 28 to November 29, receiving applications from 21 candidates.

Now in its third year, the 'Seoul City Excellent Skilled Technician Selection' was established to secure the sustainability of skilled techniques and to foster a social atmosphere where skilled technicians are respected. In particular, Seoul City has enacted an ordinance concerning the fostering of skilled technicians, which states that "the mayor may select a top master craftsman to boost morale and pride among skilled technicians," and is providing various supports accordingly. As a result, 18 people were selected in 2022 and 21 in 2023, engaging in broad activities in related fields.

Last year, applications for the contest were limited to technicians who had worked for more than 15 years in the same field and occupation in industrial sites. Those who were not production site workers, such as office workers, or those restricted by government award guidelines were excluded. Subsequently, a judging committee composed of experts in each field conducted document reviews and on-site inspections. This year, reflecting voices from the field that many small business owners possess skilled techniques but cannot meet document review requirements such as patent registration or academic journal/thesis achievements, the scoring for work period was increased and the possession of skilled techniques was recognized more broadly.

Accordingly, the jewelry field, which is expertise-oriented, and the four major industries (garment sewing, machinery and metal, printing, handmade shoes) were unified under a "work experience-oriented" system, and the scoring for work experience was increased considering small business owners who have skilled techniques but cannot meet document requirements. Additionally, a minimum score of 40 points was set for document review to secure internal and external discrimination.

The finally selected Seoul City Excellent Skilled Technicians receive a certificate and a plaque, along with a technology development incentive of 2 million KRW. They are also given opportunities to conduct special lectures at urban manufacturing-related technical training centers and specialized high schools to pass on their experience to junior small business owners. Furthermore, plaques will be installed in the commemorative space for excellent skilled technicians established at the Seoul Urban Manufacturing Hub to promote their skills and achievements. This year, Seoul City created and operated a commemorative space for excellent skilled technicians on the second-floor wall of the Seoul Urban Manufacturing Hub, and special lectures were held at schools such as Yerim Design High School.

Park Young-sun, selected as an excellent skilled technician in the jewelry field, said, "I am very pleased as it feels like the difficult process I have gone through is being rewarded. Being selected as an excellent skilled technician by Seoul City is not only a personal honor but also a contribution to the jewelry industry. I will strive even more to pass on my knowledge and skills well to my juniors."

Choi Pan-gyu, Director of Creative Industry Planning at Seoul City, said, "I sincerely thank the excellent skilled technicians who have protected Seoul’s urban manufacturing with outstanding skills in their respective positions despite difficult economic conditions. Those selected this time are masters in the industrial field who have demonstrated excellent skills and achievements in each field, and Seoul City will create an atmosphere where their skills are respected and favored."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.