Korea considers opening National Skills Competition to foreigners

Incheon — The South Korean government is contemplating extending the National Skills Competition, the country’s premier vocational skills contest, to include foreign participants, according to labor authorities. This potential change comes as there is an increasing demand for skilled workers in manufacturing and other industries who have expertise gained overseas.

Lee Byoung-hoon, the president of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea), which oversees the National Skills Competition, announced on Tuesday that the agency intends to consult with relevant ministries regarding the expansion of eligibility for the annual event. “Since this would necessitate a review and amendment of pertinent laws and regulations, we will discuss the matter with the ministries of labor and justice at an appropriate time,” Lee stated.

Presently, foreign nationals are permitted to compete in regional skills competitions but are prohibited from participating in the national event under the Act on Encouragement of Skilled Crafts, which restricts eligibility to Korean citizens. Mun Hyun-tae, a senior official responsible for global affairs at HRD Korea, expressed optimism that permitting foreign talents to enter the national competition could contribute to reviving the skills contests.