With the International Youth Skill Olympics (IYSO) just five months away, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK) organized a two-day healing camp at the Yongin Forest Education Center. The International Youth Skill Olympics is a competition where young skilled professionals aged 17 to 22 compete in various vocational skills, with the 2024 edition of the competition to be held in Lyon, France.

Forty-four IYSO competitors attended the healing camp held on April 12th, 2024, with 13 competitors unable to come due to scheduling conflicts, participants enjoyed various activities including mental health management seminars, leadership seminars, conversations with former representatives, hiking in the forest, and jazz performances over the two days.

While there were smiles on the participants’ faces, there were also some serious questions during the “conversations with former representatives” session. Participants poured out questions that Park Sung-kyu, a bronze medalist in the heavy equipment maintenance category at the 2022 International Youth Skill Olympics who currently works at HD Hyundai Construction Equipment, answered with heart.

“Park’s stories from past competitions and his current job was very helpful,” Lee Tae-kyung (Aviation Maintenance) commented.

After concluding their conversations with former representatives, the participants headed for a walk on the center’s forest trail. The forest therapy program, arranged by the HRDK for the participants who had been training late into the night, allowed the national representatives to admire the spring flowers, and enjoy the cool spring breeze.

“Working in hotels every day, I saw more of the city than nature. Seeing the forest after a long time feels like healing,” Lee Ji-yoo (Culinary Arts) said.

The final program of the healing camp featured sessions on MBTI and building confidence. “Meeting other national representatives from various occupations allowed me to broaden my perspective,” Seo Hee-won (Telecommunications Network Distribution Technology) said) “Being able to share experiences with others in similar positions was very helpful.”

Kim Geon-young (Jewelry Making) expressed the value of the time spent, saying, “It was a valuable time where we could share our concerns and offer empathy while managing our mental health.”

Since its inception in 1977 with the Netherlands International Youth Skill Olympics, South Korea has recorded a total of 19 overall victories. But Korea has not achieved an overall victory since the 2015 competition, with China emerging victorious in the 2017, 2019, and 2022 competitions.

By Seong Seung-hoon and Minu Kim

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