The Ministry of Employment and Labor is lowering barriers to national technical qualification exams to cultivate more young master technicians.
The ministry held the first meeting of its National Qualification System Development Forum on Thursday and unveiled its policy direction. The forum plans to refine the policy through multiple sessions going forward.
The ministry decided to ease eligibility requirements for national technical qualifications. It is reviewing plans to reduce the career experience requirement for Professional Engineer and Master Craftsman certifications — which currently take up to nine years — by two to four years. The move reflects criticism that Professional Engineer certifications are difficult for young people to obtain, with the average acquisition age at 45.
The ministry also plans to reform the system so that individuals without formal education or career experience can pursue national technical qualifications. It is considering measures to allow exam eligibility for those who have completed sufficient on-site training, even if they lack theoretical backgrounds.
The ministry will finalize and announce specific plans within this year. "Qualifications should serve as a ladder of opportunity for young people," said Lim Young-mi, director general of employment policy at the ministry. "We will nurture more field-ready talent through national technical qualifications."