Busan's vocational high schools have emerged as key bases for cultivating talent in future strategic industries. With Gyeongnam Technical High School and Geumsaem High School both selected for the Ministry of Education's "Contract-Type Vocational High School Development Project," the training of local-settling technical talent in shipbuilding, marine plants and power semiconductors is expected to accelerate.
The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education said Monday that Gyeongnam Technical High School and Geumsaem High School were finally selected for the Ministry of Education's "2026 Contract-Type Vocational High School Development Project."
A contract-type vocational high school is a program in which education offices, local governments, companies, universities and vocational high schools jointly form an agreement to cultivate talent needed for regional strategic industries. Its core goal is to encourage young people to settle in the region through education and employment connections tailored to local industrial demand.
In Busan, after Busan Tourism High School in the tourism and MICE field was selected for the first time last year, two additional schools were added this year, further strengthening the system for cultivating talent tailored to local industries.
Gyeongnam Technical High School, selected this time, has put forward the shipbuilding and marine plant field as its specialized industry. It has built a cooperation network with about 100 institutions and companies in total, including Busan, six universities such as Korea Maritime and Ocean University, 94 companies including HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and related associations.
"Considering that Busan is a world-class shipbuilding and marine industry city, it is expected to play an important role in building a system to supply field-tailored technical manpower," an official at the city education office explained.
Geumsaem High School will take on cultivating talent in the power semiconductor field, which Busan is strategically fostering. It has established an industry-academia-research cooperation system by signing agreements with Busan, Gijang County, 13 universities including Pusan National University and Dong-eui University, 16 core companies of the power semiconductor materials, parts and equipment specialized complex, and industry associations and specialized institutions.
In particular, Busan is pushing to build a power semiconductor specialized complex in the Gijang County area, so demand for specialized manpower is expected to grow significantly along with the future expansion of the industrial ecosystem.
The Ministry of Education will provide up to 4.5 billion won per school over the next five years for the selected schools. In Busan's case, with two schools selected, the city will be able to receive up to 9 billion won in state funding.
The funding will be used for curriculum reform, building practice equipment, operating industry-academia cooperation programs and strengthening employment connections. The Ministry of Education plans to develop it into a model for cultivating talent tailored to regional industries through regular consultation and performance management.
The selection is assessed as the result of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education's close cooperation system with the local industry. In particular, with the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in May, a legal basis was established for designating and supporting region-specialized vocational high schools, which is expected to boost vocational education innovation.
Superintendent Kim Suk-jun said, "Fostering contract-type vocational high schools will be of great help in reviving Busan and cultivating talent needed for local industries." He added, "The simultaneous selection of Gyeongnam Technical High School and Geumsaem High School will not only enhance the competitiveness of Busan's vocational high schools but also become a cornerstone for cultivating local-settling talent that will contribute to regional and national development."
