Officials and employees from 15 countries, totaling 32 participants, will spend a year in South Korea learning about railway policies, vehicles, signaling, and safety systems. The government aims to build networks with international railway officials and expand the overseas business opportunities for domestic companies.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, 71 applicants from 16 countries, including Mongolia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, applied for the 9th Global Railway Training Program, with 32 participants ultimately selected. A welcoming ceremony is scheduled for September 30, and the training program will run for 12 months until August 31 of next year.
The Global Railway Training Program targets officials and railway personnel from countries where South Korean railway companies may expand their operations. Since 2018, a total of 232 participants from 26 countries have taken part. The program aims to create connections between local officials who may be responsible for future railway projects or policies and domestic railway institutions and companies.
The range of participating countries is expanding. Last year, 32 participants from 12 countries took part, while this year, the number has increased to 32 participants from 15 countries. The 8th session included first-time participants from the UAE, Panama, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
Participants will receive training in railway management and policy, as well as railway vehicles, signaling systems, and safety systems. They will visit control centers and domestic railway institutions and experience South Korea's railway operating system by riding high-speed trains.
Recently, the scope of overseas projects for domestic railway companies has broadened from vehicle exports to operations and maintenance. Last year, a domestic railway operator secured its first overseas project for the operation and maintenance of the Manila MRT-7, which is set to open by the end of 2026, diversifying its approach to international expansion.
Kim Tae-byeong, director of the Railway Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "The network formed through the Global Railway Training Program serves as a foundation for K-rail's international expansion. We will strengthen our connections with key officials from overseas public institutions and procurement agencies to support our companies in entering and securing overseas railway projects."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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