Young technical talents representing their countries have gathered in Shanghai, China.
A total of 1,385 competitors from 68 countries are participating in the 48th WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai.
The WorldSkills Competition, held every two years, features contests in 64 skill categories ranging from cabinet making, joinery, and baking to robot systems, cyber security, and cloud computing.
South Korea has sent 56 athletes to compete across 50 categories at this WorldSkills event.
Wearing traditional hanbok-style team uniforms during the opening ceremony, the South Korean delegation entered waving the Taegeukgi, the national flag.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to the WorldSkills competition, stating, "China will take this event as an opportunity to encourage and guide more workers, especially young people, to find a path to success through skills." He added, "We will deepen exchanges and cooperation with other countries to further contribute to global economic growth and the improvement of people's living standards."
The WorldSkills competitions will run for four days from September 23 to 26.
In the web technologies category, winning a gold medal would mark a record-breaking fifth consecutive gold medal from the 2017 competition through this event, drawing significant attention.
South Korean competitors will also participate in newly established categories at this event, including software testing and prosthetic dentistry.
South Korean athletes are participating for the first time in visual merchandising and renewable energy categories as well.
Ju Hong-jae, an athlete affiliated with Samsung Electronics who is participating in the mechatronics category combining mechanical and electronic engineering, showed great confidence ahead of the event, saying, "I am confident I can win the gold medal," and adding that he is "trying to get nervous" because he does not feel nervous at all.
Ahead of the opening ceremony, Kim Jung-ho, Chairperson of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee, visited the athletes' accommodation in Shanghai to cheer them on, stating, "Even if you do not necessarily win, it will be meaningful if you fully demonstrate your skills in the fields you have diligently practiced." He added, "I expect you to stand tall in the world as proud representative technicians of South Korea."
Lee Byung-hoon, President of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea and head of the South Korean delegation to the WorldSkills Competition, remarked, "I know very well how much effort, practice, and sweat our national team athletes have put in to reach this place." Noting that the WorldSkills events are taking place during the Chuseok holiday, he asked them to "create many wonderful Chuseok gifts for the public."
South Korea has participated 32 times starting with the 16th competition in Spain in 1967, achieving 19 overall titles.
South Korea is aiming for its 20th overall title while competing against this year's host country China, which has secured the overall championship in the last four consecutive events.
Shanghai/Reporter Jeon Hyeong-u
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