Ministry of Employment and Labor, Human Resources Development Service mark 30th Vocational Skills Month

Gwak Seung-ho of North Gyeongsang Province Industrial Vocational School receives Gold Tower Order

78 honorees this year; 35 receive medals and commendations at ceremony

Kim Seung-tae, a Samsung Heavy Industries worker who cut costs by about 5.2 billion won ($3.79 million) over 36 years through new shipbuilding methods and process improvements, while training the next generation of skilled workers. [Ministry of Employment and Labor]
Kim Seung-tae, a Samsung Heavy Industries worker who cut costs by about 5.2 billion won ($3.79 million) over 36 years through new shipbuilding methods and process improvements, while training the next generation of skilled workers. [Ministry of Employment and Labor]

A Samsung Heavy Industries worker who cut costs by about 5.2 billion won ($3.79 million) over 36 years through new shipbuilding techniques and process improvements — while dedicating himself to training younger technicians — has been awarded the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea held the 30th Vocational Skills Month ceremony Wednesday at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu, presenting medals and commendations to individuals who have contributed to vocational skills development.

A total of 78 people were honored this year for contributions to vocational skills development. At Wednesday's ceremony, 35 received awards: two received orders of merit, three received industrial service commendations, eight received presidential citations, 17 received prime ministerial citations and five received ministerial citations.

Kim Seung-tae, who received the Silver Tower Order, is a master craftsman in shipbuilding and a designated master technician of South Gyeongsang Province. He has registered 11 patents related to shipbuilding and marine technology and contributed to productivity gains through proposal and improvement activities. He has also delivered more than 500 lectures at meister high schools, partner companies and in-house vocational training centers to pass on his skills to the next generation.

"I will generously share the experience and know-how I have built up on the job with younger technicians, and I hope to play a small part in building a society where ability is respected and opportunity is given to those who work hard," Kim said.

The Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit went to Gwak Seung-ho, chairman of North Gyeongsang Province Industrial Vocational School. Gwak was recognized for investing an average of about 1.6 billion won per year in training infrastructure over the past five years and for running new-technology programs including K-Digital Training and an AI campus to develop talent aligned with industry needs. He also built a network of more than 500 partner companies to strengthen job placement support for trainees.

The industrial service commendation went to Ma Yeong-tae, a principal researcher at Samsung Electronics; Kim Kyung-soo, chief executive of Nextchip; and Kim Sang-ho, a division head at the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training.

Ma contributed to cost savings worth hundreds of billions of won through process improvements, including stabilizing mass production of AI semiconductors and localizing parts that had previously relied on foreign equipment.

Kim Kyung-soo was recognized for his efforts to develop AI semiconductor talent, including establishing a network of expert technical mentors, while Kim Sang-ho was honored for advancing the vocational skills development system through work on national competency standard learning modules and policy research on vocational training and qualification systems.

Vocational Skills Month was established in 1997 to encourage public participation in vocational skills development and boost morale among workers in the field. This year's ceremony was held under the theme "Skills Renewed, Tomorrow Made Bright." Other events scheduled this month include a Skilled Technicians' Day ceremony on Sept. 9, a human resources development conference Sept. 10-11 and a Best-HRD certification ceremony on Sept. 17.

Im Yeong-mi, director general for employment policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said the government would expand vocational training in AI and other emerging technologies, strengthen efforts to develop talent that meets the workforce needs of key future industries and regions, and actively support lifelong vocational skills development for all citizens.


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