The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg), hosted the 5th Ausbildung Graduation Ceremony, at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, celebrating the graduation of 65 trainees.
The Ausbildung program, introduced by KGCCI in Korea, combines 70% practical industry training with 30% theoretical education. Upon successful completion, trainees are awarded an official Ausbildung certificate jointly issued by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and KGCCI.
This year marked a significant expansion of the program. Porsche Korea produced its first graduates, and for the first time, trainees in body repair and paint were certified, extending the program beyond general maintenance to cover the entire automotive value chain.
The ceremony brought together leading German automotive companies, including Porsche Korea, BMW Group Korea, MAN Truck & Bus Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea and Volkswagen Group Korea, who joined in celebrating the graduates’ achievements and new beginnings.
The event began with a speech by H.E. Georg Schmidt, German Ambassador to Korea, followed by congratulatory remarks from Unsik Lee, Director of technical college support division, Ministry of Education, Antonio Randazzo, German Chairperson of KGCCI, and Tobias Bolle, Director T-VET Abroad of DIHK,
H.E. Georg Schmidt, German Ambassador to Korea, highlighted in his congratulatory remarks: “The Ausbildung program in Korea is a strong example of industry-led vocational training and Korea–Germany partnership. As electrification and AI transform the automotive sector, skilled professionals remain indispensable—turning innovation into real-world impact and shaping the future of mobility.”
Tobias Bolle, Director T-VET Abroad of DIHK, also delivered a video message, stating: “Korea’s Ausbildung has established itself as a successful program reflecting the vocational training expertise of Germany’s automotive industry. We extend our sincere appreciation to the participating companies for their generous support and for providing trainees with opportunities to grow into highly skilled professionals.”
Notably, the first graduates in body repair and paint were certified, marking a significant milestone and demonstrating the program’s expansion beyond general maintenance to cover the entire automotive value chain.
Based on final assessments conducted in line with German standards, Best Trainee and Best Trainer awards were presented for each participating brand, recognizing outstanding performance and excellence.
In the general maintenance category, the award recipients were: △Porsche Trainee Byeong-ryul Jeon and Trainer Ho-gyun Son (Deutsche Auto / Changwon) △Volkswagen: Trainee Chan-oh Kim and Trainer Tae-ho Lee (Giohaus / Suncheon) △ Audi: Trainee Yong-joo Lee and Trainer Ho-kyung Lee (Webon Motors / Bundang) △ BMW: Trainee Chang-ho Jeon and Trainer Dong-joo Kim (Deutsche Motors / Songpa) △ Mercedes-Benz: Trainee Min-woo Baek and Trainer Gyu-hong Park (Star Motors / Geumjeong). In the body repair category, the award recipients were: △ BMW: Trainee Han-jun Lee and Trainer Hyo-sang Kim (Deutsche Motors / Seongsu). In the painting category, the award recipients were: △ Mercedes-Benz: Trainee Ha-neul Lim and Trainer Woo-soo Kim (HS Hyosung The Class / Jukjeon)
Byeon-ryul Jeon, selected as Porsche Best Trainee, shared, “Ausbildung has been a valuable opportunity that allowed me to grow by gaining both academic knowledge and hands-on experience. Building on what I have learned throughout the program, I hope to develop into a professional technician who embodies Porsche’s values of excellence in performance and quality.” He added, “I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my trainer, who has been a constant source of support and guidance throughout my journey.”
Antonio Randazzo, German Chairperson of KGCCI, emphasized the significance of the trainees' achievements, stating, “This graduation is not merely a milestone, but a starting point. Through KGCCI’s Ausbildung program, these young professionals have developed not only technical expertise, but also the resilience, responsibility, and problem-solving mindset that our industries urgently need. They represent the true spirit of Ausbildung and will play a vital role in shaping the future of our companies and the broader Korean–German business community.”
KGCCI introduced the Ausbildung program in Korea in 2017, in collaboration with German automotive companies such as Mercedes-Benz Korea and BMW Group Korea. Subsequently, MAN Truck & Bus Korea and Star Truck Korea joined in 2018, followed by Volkswagen Group Korea in 2019 and Porsche Korea in 2021. Currently, four Korean colleges are participating in four different Ausbildung professions – general auto maintenance, car body repair, automotive painting, and service advising. The program has seen steady growth, with around 400 trainees and 370 trainers currently involved, operating at approximately 160 service centers. A total of 340 trainees have successfully completed the program.
In addition, in March, KGCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and conducted an Ausbildung trainee recruitment briefing for students from 12 vocational high schools in Seoul through the “Matching Day in Seoul” program. For 2026, a total of 110 students are expected to be recruited across four job categories: general maintenance, body repair, automotive paint, and service advisor roles.
