The 43rd National Disability Skills Competition concluded after four days of events, featuring 477 competitors showcasing their skills. Selected athletes will represent South Korea at the International Disability Skills Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, next year.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the closing ceremony took place on September 18 at BEXCO in Busan. The competition, held from September 15 to 18, saw 477 representatives from various provinces compete in 41 categories, resulting in 113 medalists: 38 gold, 39 silver, and 36 bronze.
In the regular categories, Seoul's Heo Su-ho won a gold medal in electronic devices. In computer programming, Park Jae-hyuk from Seoul, Park Woo-jin from Gyeonggi in CNC lathe, and Park Kyung-hyun from Gyeonggi in computer repair also earned gold medals.
In demonstration categories, Kim Chung-hwan from Busan won gold in 3D printing, Kim Jeong-pyo from Daegu in mobile app development, and Seo Ji-wook from Busan in video content production. Lee Hye-min from Daegu secured a gold medal in baking for individuals with developmental disabilities.
In the leisure and daily living skills category, Daejeon's Lee Tae-young won gold in pottery for individuals with severe disabilities, while Busan's Choi Hye-seong took gold in data entry for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Winners received certificates, medals, and cash prizes. The cash awards for regular categories were 12 million won for gold, 8 million won for silver, and 4 million won for bronze. For demonstration categories, the prizes were 6 million won, 4 million won, and 2 million won, while the leisure and daily living skills category offered 2 million won, 1 million won, and 600,000 won. Additionally, winners are exempt from the written and practical exams for the national technical qualification.
This competition also served as a selection event for the 11th International Disability Skills Olympics, which will take place in Helsinki in May 2027. Selected athletes will compete against skilled individuals with disabilities from around the world.
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon stated, "This competition was a meaningful occasion that demonstrated that disability does not limit one's ability to work, as evidenced by the athletes' outstanding skills. The government will actively support individuals with disabilities in achieving good jobs and a hopeful future through appropriate education and opportunities."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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