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54 Young People in Busan Set Their Sights on Global Markets… 5th Busan Trade Rookie Graduation Ceremony Held

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will hold the graduation ceremony for the 5th Busan Trade Rookie cohort today, August 28, at 11:00 a.m. at the Busan Trade Center in Jung-gu.

About 60 people are expected to attend the ceremony, including graduates of the Trade Rookie program and representatives from Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Economic Promotion Agency, the Busan Regional Headquarters of the Korea International Trade Association, and KOTRA.

The ceremony has been organized to celebrate the graduation of 54 local young people who completed a hands-on trade training program and to encourage them as they take their first steps toward becoming trade professionals.

Busan Trade Rookie is a training program that Busan Metropolitan City has operated since 2022 in partnership with the Busan Economic Promotion Agency and the Busan Regional Headquarters of the Korea International Trade Association to cultivate local young people as trade professionals and support their employment.

The 5th cohort focused on practical training that allowed participants to apply trade practices to actual export processes.

Based on foundational instruction in areas such as trade practices and theory, the graduates participated in export-oriented practical programs, including an overseas marketing competition and mock export consultations. Through these activities, they gained firsthand experience ranging from developing export strategies to consulting with buyers and built practical skills for the field.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to further strengthen support that connects training to employment by offering various follow-up programs after graduation, including employment consulting and assistance with participation in job fairs.

In the second half of the year, the City will support participation in overseas exhibitions, including the Tokyo International Gift Show in September and the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November. It also plans to continue employment-linked programs through December, including individualized employment consulting and assistance with participation in job fairs.

Since its launch in 2022, Busan Trade Rookie has produced a total of 199 graduates from its 1st through 4th cohorts. Of them, 159 have successfully found employment, representing an employment rate of 80 percent.

Among those employed, the largest share, 62 percent, found jobs in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do. Employment destinations have also expanded to Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and overseas.

In particular, the program was selected for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Local Youth Talent Dispatch to Overseas Missions Program. All three positions allocated to Busan Metropolitan City were filled by Busan Trade Rookie graduates, who are currently working at three overseas diplomatic missions, demonstrating that the program is also creating pathways to international careers.

A 25-year-old graduate of the 5th cohort said, “It was meaningful to gain in-depth knowledge and experience in trade, a field I have long been interested in, through both theoretical instruction and a wide range of practical training. I hope to build on the practical experience I gained through this program and develop my capabilities in the trade sector.”

Kim Ki-hwan, Assistant Mayor of Digital Economy Office, said, “In trade, experience gained by engaging directly in the field is just as important as theoretical knowledge. I hope the young people who have completed this program will grow into competitive trade professionals who can succeed not only in Busan but also in global markets.”

He added, “Busan Metropolitan City will continue to cultivate local talent capable of succeeding in global markets through field-oriented training, stronger links to employment, and systematic follow-up support.”