Disabled individuals from across the country, including those who learned precious metal crafts in their 60s and young people preparing to become streamers through video editing skills, have gathered in Busan. They will compete in 41 different job categories and select representatives for next year's international competition.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor, in collaboration with the Busan Metropolitan City, is hosting the 43rd National Disabled Skills Competition from September 15 to 18. A total of 477 athletes representing various provinces and cities are participating in this event, which is organized by the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled and the Korea Association for Employment of the Disabled. The competitions will take place at three venues: BEXCO, Korea Polytechnic University Busan Campus, and Busan Mechanical Engineering High School.
There are 41 competition categories, including 19 regular, 13 demonstration, and 9 leisure and daily living skills. The fields cover a wide range of technical areas, such as computer-aided mechanical drafting, computer programming, precious metal crafts, CNC lathe operation, mobile app development, and 3D printing. Categories also include data entry, video content editing, office administration, and barista skills for participants with developmental disabilities.
Competitors secured their spots in the national competition through local qualifying events. For instance, one participant in the precious metal crafts category developed an interest in jewelry after last year's local competition. Starting from reading blueprints and repeatedly watching demonstration videos, they trained hard, won a gold medal at the local event, and successfully secured a job while preparing for the national competition.
Another participant in video content editing began learning editing skills to pursue a career as a streamer. After winning a gold medal at the local competition, they are now focused on building their skills to create their own content.
Winners will receive certificates, medals, and cash prizes. For regular categories, the prizes are 12 million won for gold, 8 million won for silver, and 4 million won for bronze. For demonstration categories, the prizes are 6 million won, 4 million won, and 2 million won, while leisure and daily living skills categories offer 2 million won, 1 million won, and 600,000 won.
Gold, silver, and bronze medalists will be exempt from the written and practical exams for the national technical qualification in their respective fields for two years from the date of their award.
This competition will also serve as the selection event for the national team for the 11th International Abilympics, which will be held in Helsinki, Finland, next year. The final selection of representatives will be confirmed after verification procedures for any disqualifying factors.
During the competition period, there will also be side events, including career and employment fairs, vocational experiences, disability awareness improvement performances, and accessible bus tours.
Vice Minister of Labor Kwon Chang-jun stated, "This competition is more than just a showcase of skills; it is a stage where the value of the skills honed by the athletes connects dreams and opens up better job opportunities and a new future. The government will significantly increase related budgets to ensure that people with disabilities can dream freely and work confidently, focusing on tailored vocational training, creating quality jobs centered on local communities, and establishing safe and respectful workplaces."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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