President Lee "Young technical talent, Korea's future... We strive to create a respected society."

President Lee Jae-myung said to the national team that returned from second place overall at the Shanghai International Skills Olympics on the 5th, "If technology is Korea's competitiveness, the young technical talents who will create that technology are the future of Korea."

At a luncheon held with the athletes at the Blue House that day, President Lee encouraged them, saying, “The reason our country has grown into a global manufacturing powerhouse is because of the sweat and passion of countless technicians who have quietly refined their skills in the field.”

He continued, “I hope you will take pride in your skills and continue to challenge yourself towards bigger dreams,” and promised, “The government will also strive to create a society where more young people can realize their dreams through technology and where people with outstanding skills receive recognition and respect commensurate with their skills.”

He added, “I hope that the sweat you shed becomes a source of pride, and that your passion leads to bigger dreams.”

Regarding the achievements of the athletes in this competition, President Lee said, "Although each person's story is different, I believe that all 54 athletes challenged their limits and demonstrated the skills they had honed to the fullest. Unfortunately, there were athletes who did not win medals, but the sweat they shed to get to this point and the time they took on the challenge without giving up are more valuable than the medals."

In response, Lee Byeong-hoon, head of the team, expressed his gratitude, saying, "The overall second-place result was achieved through the government's interest and support, corporate sponsorship, guidance committee members' dedication, and family support."

However, Director Lee also confirmed future tasks and said, "The host country, China, not only took first place overall by pouring its national capabilities into nurturing young technical talent, but also widened the gap with Korea."

Accordingly, he said, “We ask for greater interest and support from the government, National Assembly, and companies so that more young people can take on the challenge of becoming engineers,” and added, “Please actively consider holding the Skills Olympics, following 1978 and 2001, to create a national boom in skill promotion in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).”