Landed a Job or Changed Jobs With a Certification? Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Launches Contest for Success Stories

From finding jobs and pursuing further education to overcoming career breaks
Open to holders of Computer Specialist in Spreadsheet & Database and Word Processor certifications
22 winners to receive ministerial and KCCI chairperson awards, plus cash prizes

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry is seeking stories of people who achieved outcomes such as finding jobs, getting promoted or changing careers after earning professional certifications.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced on Oct. 11 that it is holding the 2026 Outstanding Cases of Certification Use Contest and will accept submissions through Oct. 30. Launched in 2017, the contest aims to highlight the value of earning certifications by showcasing real-world examples of how the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's certifications are used. This year marks its 10th edition.

The contest is open to holders of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry certifications, including the Computer Specialist in Spreadsheet & Database, Word Processor and Distribution Manager certifications. Anyone whose life or career changed as a result of earning or using a certification may enter. Applicants may freely describe experiences such as finding a job or pursuing further education, getting promoted or changing jobs, improving job skills at work or during military service, or overcoming challenges such as a disability or a career break.

Exterior view of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

There will be 22 winners in total. Each of the three top prize winners will receive 1 million won and an award from either the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, or the chairperson of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Each of the nine excellence award winners will receive 500,000 won, and each of the 10 honorable mention winners will receive 300,000 won.

Certification holders who wish to enter can download an application form from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Qualification Evaluation Division website and submit it by email. The winning entries are scheduled to be announced on the website in late November after review. For more information, contact the organizers by phone or email.

"A single certification can open the door to a first job for one person and serve as a stepping stone back into the workplace for another," said Kim Gisu, head of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Qualification Evaluation Division. "The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue to develop and improve certifications that are used in real industrial settings so that they can lead to employment and stronger job skills."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.