Awardees out of 78 participants in the main event will be announced in August The main event for the 8th Welding Technique Contest, hosted by the Agency for Technology and Standardsof the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and supported by the Korea Metal Journal, was held July 1-July 6 with 78 participants who had passed the preliminary contest at Seoul Jungsu Polytechnic College located atBokwang-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. At this main contest, competitions were held along 3 fronts; that is, groups from industries, individuals, and students from high schools for 2 days each and all the examination was concluded July 7. The Welding Technique Contest, jointly organized by the Korea Welding Industry Cooperative and Seoul Jungsu Polytechnic College, is held every year with the objective of promoting the development of basic technologies to enhance the degree of welding technology on industrial sites, in order to locate talented manpower and publicize the importance of welding technologies and raise the recognition of welding technologies and the pride of those engaging in welding industry. 16 from 8 teams of industry groups contested in CO₂arc welding and tungsten welding gas welding (using flux cord wire), and 30 individuals from industries and 32 from high schools vied in covered arc welding technique. ‘The skill of the participants from high schools is very good this year‘ said the related officials who observed the contest, adding, ‘We will have to foster the circumstance where this event can contribute to the future development of domestic production base technologies by positively supporting and developing this event.‘ jhyou@snmnews.com