The Korean national team entering the opening ceremony of the 47th ‍International Skills Olympics. / Provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor

South Korea⁤ Secures Second Place at ​the 47th International Skills​ Olympics

South Korea’s team achieved an impressive second place overall ​at the 47th ⁣International Skills Olympics held in Lyon, France.

According to the‌ Ministry of Employment and Labor, ⁢the Skills Olympics, which concluded on ​September 15th (local time), saw South Korean athletes win 10‌ gold medals, 13 silver medals, 9 bronze medals, and 11 excellence medals.

The​ overall score, based ⁤on the official index of‍ the Organizing Committee of ⁣the WorldSkills ‌Competition, was 232 points, ranking South Korea⁣ second after China (240 points). Taiwan ranked third, Switzerland fourth, and France fifth.

South Korea demonstrated exceptional‍ strength in ​the ‍manufacturing technology and engineering fields, including ⁤CNC lathes, ⁣welding, industrial control, mobile robotics, additive manufacturing, and robot system integration, securing a total of six gold medals in these⁣ fields.

In ⁣addition to⁣ its success in manufacturing⁢ and engineering, South Korea also excelled in the service sector, winning⁤ in the skin care industry, as well as in the fashion and art sectors, including ⁣clothing design and graphic design.

Lee​ Woo-young, Chairman of the ​Korean Committee for the International Skills Olympics (Chairman of the Korea ‍Human Resources Development Institute for Industry), expressed his⁢ pride in the Korean national athletes, stating, “The institute will take the lead in fostering‌ technical talents who will lead the future and ‍open a ⁣renaissance of skilled technology in Korea.”

Winners of the Skills Olympics will receive prize money of 67.2​ million won for a gold medal, 56 million won for ‍a silver medal, and 39.2 ⁢million won for a bronze medal, as well as a medal of honor.

The next International Skills Olympics is scheduled to ⁣take place in Shanghai, China in 2026.