Busan is good

City and Office of Education Secure Final Approval for a Semiconductor Meister High School, Laying the Foundation for Busan’s Leap as the Semiconductor Hub of Southern Korea

내용

Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that the Ministry of Education has officially approved the conversion of Busan Electronic Technical High School into the 20th Meister High School specializing in semiconductors.

Through this designation, Busan Metropolitan City has established a foundation for systematically nurturing highly skilled semiconductor professionals from the high school level in one of the region’s most important future-oriented advanced industries.

Following its designation as a Meister High School, Busan Electronic Technical High School will begin full-scale preparations for a successful opening. The school plans to reorganize its existing departments, which have focused on electrical engineering, electronics, and mechanical engineering, into a single semiconductor department. It will operate two specialized tracks—Semiconductor Process Equipment (3 classes) and Semiconductor Device Manufacturing (3 classes)—to cultivate professionals in semiconductor processing and manufacturing.

This customized curriculum will be supported by the advanced infrastructure of the Semiconductor Education Center, which opened in February. As a result, local students aspiring to become future semiconductor technology experts will be able to receive highly advanced practical training at a university-level standard while still in high school.

In addition, a second Semiconductor Education Center will be established in the future, further enhancing practical training environments and completing a regional hub for semiconductor education.

This achievement is regarded as the result of coordinated efforts by Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education, and related organizations working together as a unified team to foster semiconductor talent.

In July 2024, Busan Metropolitan City signed a four-party memorandum of understanding with the Busan Metropolitan Council, the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education, and the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish a foundation for administrative and financial support. The city also participated in a task force led by the Office of Education and contributed to the development of strategies for securing a Meister High School designation.

The city plans to continue maintaining close cooperation with the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education and the school to ensure the stable operation of Busan’s Semiconductor Meister High School.

Busan Metropolitan City has steadily built a university-centered semiconductor education foundation through initiatives such as the Semiconductor Specialized University Support Program and the Advanced Industry Talent Development Bootcamp Program.

Recognizing the importance of semiconductor education at the high school level for cultivating industry-ready professionals, the city has also continued to collaborate with the Office of Education to attract both contract-based specialized high schools and Meister High Schools.

As a result, following Geumsaem High School’s designation last week as a contract-based specialized high school in the power semiconductor field, the approval of Busan Electronic Technical High School’s conversion into a Meister High School has further strengthened the city’s semiconductor talent development system.

Busan Metropolitan City is currently participating in a public competition for the Advanced Industry Specialized Graduate School Program to establish a semiconductor talent development framework that connects education from high school through graduate school.

If selected, the program is expected to further expand the city’s capacity to cultivate semiconductor talent ranging from field-ready professionals to master’s- and doctoral-level specialists.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The successful attraction of a Semiconductor Meister High School, together with last week’s designation of Geumsaem High School as a contract-based specialized high school in the power semiconductor field, marks a decisive turning point in establishing a complete semiconductor talent development foundation from the high school level in Busan.”

He added, “By creating an environment overflowing with the semiconductor talent sought by industry, we will transform Busan into the undisputed semiconductor hub city of Southern Korea.”