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Park vows to open bright future for skilled technicians

Posted August. 21, 2013 06:54,   

한국어

“Korea, once one of the world’s poorest countries, was able to take a leap to become an economic power due to efforts by countless human resources armed with skills like you.”

Hosting a luncheon for the Korean delegation of the 2013 WorldSkills Competition at the presidential office on Tuesday, President Park Geun-hye revealed without reservation her overflowing excitement stronger than that she had displayed at any other events.

“No other images of human beings are more beautiful than that of people engrossed in work, while making their utmost effort,” Park said. “You have shown the most beautiful images of humans by developing the future through your skills and efforts.” Upon watching a video footage showcasing their activities and achievements, Park said, “I almost burst into tears because I felt overwhelmed. It was truly touching.” Lying behind the president’s such intense exuberance might be her memories from 36 years ago.

On July 19, 1977, then President Park Chung-hee invited to the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae 48 people who brought to Korea the overall championship at the WorldSkills Competition for the first time in the nation’s history. Former President Park welcomed them, saying, “At a time when Korea is seeking to develop into an industrialized country, your winning the championship overall accorded the people solid self-confidence that Korea will emerge as an advanced industrialized country in not so distant future.” Back then, the incumbent president who was serving as the acting First Lady was watching her father greet the medal winners one by one, asking them schools they hailed from and affiliations, right by the senior Park.

Since clinching the first championship in 1977, the Korean delegation has secured the championship titles overall on 18 events over the next 36 years.

In this year`s competition in Germany, Korea secured victory for four consecutive years by garnering 12 gold medals, five silvers, six bronzes and 14 honorable mentions, as all members of the delegation won a prize. Thirty seven of the 41 participants in the Korean delegation are high school students or high school graduates, and the remaining four are affiliated with Korea Polytechnic University and Chungbuk Health & Science University. Most of them are from technical high schools, and they compete with rivals from other countries only based on technical skills in the areas of baking, carpentry, plumbing and web design.

President Park said, “Korea will give a better future to you, who opted for technique over educational background, and capacity over ostensible records.” This stance is in line with remarks by her father, the late former President Park.

“The reason Korea failed to develop its industry and technology faster and was lagging behind other countries is that, in the past, Korea had little interest in technology and technical skills and had a view of vocations disparaging technical skills,” former President Park said in expressing his sense of regret. “You might be disappointed to see that children from better-off families enter college, thinking that ‘I could not go to college due to poor economic condition of my family,’ but you will not necessarily achieve success in life only when you graduate from college. I urge you to work with pride and commitment."

“In order for a country to achieve technological innovation and economic development, it should give preferential treatment to skilled technicians and technology, and recognize their value,” Park told the delegation at Tuesday’s luncheon. “Korea will continue to establish an employment culture and human resource management system centered on professional capacity, rather than educational background to ensure that people with skills can be judged and acknowledged for their capacity, receive fair treatment, and confidently realize their dreams.”