By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) jointly held the “2025 Ausbildung Information Session” with BMW Group Korea, Daimler Truck Korea, MAN Truck & Bus Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea and Volkswagen Group Korea at Ajou Motor College in Boryeong, Chungcheong Province, on Oct. 18, 2024.
Ausbildung program is dual vocational training education from Germany, where on-the-job training and theoretical education from school are carried out simultaneously. The training is a 36-month educational program combining on-the-job training (70%) at work and theory-based education from colleges (30%), covering professions of general auto maintenance, car body, painting and service advising.
Upon completion of the program, trainees receive Ausbildung certificate issued by the German Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and KGCCI and undertake their roles as a key technician in companies. In particular, the Ausbildung program in field of general maintenance and painting is equally recognized in Germany.
This year’s Ausbildung Information Session marked the largest event of its kind, with more than 500 attendees including vocational high school students, educators, and parents from across South Korea. Local middle school students also attended, demonstrating a keen interest in the Ausbildung program.
At the event, a total of 11 vehicles of various brands were on display, where participants experienced the interiors and exteriors firsthand and engaged with experts on-site to address their questions about the vehicles. In addition to brand presentations, individual booths provided consultations on the ideal candidate profiles and application process and career development opportunities, with particular focus on specialized fields of car body, painting, and service advising.
Young-Jin Kim, Deputy Director of KGCCI Ausbildung stated, “The 2025 KGCCI Ausbildung Information Session provided invaluable insights to vocational high school students aspiring to jointhe automotive brands and motivated them to focus on high school curriculums to get into the Ausbildung program.”
Several students who attended the event shared their thoughts, stating, “It was a great opportunity to explore German automotive brands that we don’t often encounter in our coursework. This event enabled me to decide on which brand I am eager to apply for. Now, I will give my best to join the Ausbildung program.”
KGCCI introduced the Ausbildung program in South Korea in collaboration with German automotive companies Mercedes-Benz Korea and BMW Group Korea in 2017. Subsequently, Daimler Truck Korea and MAN Truck & Bus Korea joined in 2018, followed by Volkswagen Group Korea in 2019 and Porsche Korea in 2021. Currently, five Korean colleges are participating in the program in four different Ausbildung professions – general auto maintenance, car body, painting and service advising.
The program has seen an impressive growth that around 460 trainees and 280 trainers are currently involved in the program, operating at 130 service centers. A total of 211 trainees have successfully completed the Ausbildung program.