The 61st National Skills Competition, the largest festival for the nation’s skilled technicians, held its opening ceremony at Songdo Convensia in Incheon on August 24, formally raising the curtain on the competition. It marks Incheon’s first time hosting the event in 16 years since 2010, and the fifth time overall.
 [코리안투데이] Opening ceremony of the 61st National Skills Competition © 장형임 기자 |
The Incheon Metropolitan Government (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that the opening ceremony of the 2026 Incheon Metropolitan City 61st National Skills Competition, co-hosted with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, was held at Songdo Convensia on August 24. The competition runs for seven days from August 22 to 28, with the closing ceremony scheduled for the 28th.
A total of 1,677 competitors from 16 cities and provinces across the country are taking part in this competition, spanning seven divisions and 51 trades. Including the competitors and event officials, some 18,000 people are expected to visit Incheon. The host city of Incheon is fielding 101 competitors who will make the most of their home-ground advantage. The participating competitors are regional representatives selected after posting outstanding results at the local skills competitions held in each city and province in the first half of this year.
The events take place at a total of six venues: the open venues of Songdo Convensia and the Songdo Campus of Jaeneung University, as well as Incheon Machinery Technical High School, Bupyeong Technical High School, Incheon Fire Safety High School, and Incheon Electronics Meister High School. Throughout the competition, a variety of programs will be held, including trade-specific events and judging, hands-on activities, and exhibitions.
Winners receive certificates and prize money according to their rankings. First place is awarded the Minister of Employment and Labor’s Prize along with 10 million won in prize money, while second and third place receive the Competition Chair’s Prize together with 6 million won and 4 million won, respectively. The top two scorers (or teams) in each trade who fall within the eligible age range advance through the evaluation matches of the Korea Committee to earn a place on the national team for the 49th WorldSkills Competition, to be held in Japan in 2028. Trade winners are also granted an exemption from the practical examination for the industrial engineer qualification in the corresponding field.
First launched in 1966, the National Skills Competition has served over the past 60 years as a pillar of Korea’s economic growth and a cradle of skilled technology. As the foundation for selecting the national team for the WorldSkills Competition, it is credited with greatly contributing to the nation’s growth into a technological powerhouse. In Incheon, this marks the fifth time the event has been held, following 1979, 1984, 1995, and 2010.
Side events for citizens have also been prepared. At the side-event hall set up in the exhibition hall of Songdo Convensia, a corporate fair, exhibitions and hands-on experiences of skilled-technology works, skills docent (commentary) tours, and promotional booths for Incheon City, the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, and skilled-technology organizations will operate through August 26. Anyone may freely visit and tour the competition venues and the side-event hall without prior registration. However, viewing the events, which require competitors’ concentration, may be partly restricted depending on how each trade’s proceedings unfold.
Incheon City is doing its utmost to ensure venue safety management for the safety of participating competitors and visitors, while also working to promote Incheon to visitors from across the country through the operation of the Incheon promotional booth, city tours for the delegations, and guidance to tourist attractions. In effect, the competition is expanding into both a regional festival and a stage for promoting the city.
At the opening ceremony, Mayor Park Chan-dae said, ‘It is a truly moving and meaningful moment for the 61st National Skills Competition to be held here in Incheon after a full 16 years,’ adding, ‘I will do my very best to cheer on the dazzling wonders and spirited challenges that will blossom from your fingertips.’
지역 홍보대사 신청 기자양성과정 신청 코리안투데이 지부장 신청 코리안투데이 인천강화코리안브랜드대상 신청 최고경영인대상 신청 소비자만족도대상 신청
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