Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., announced Tuesday that three of its employees were honored with the nation’s most prestigious award presented to artisans and technicians.

The company said that it has had 26 award recipients since the Korea Master Artisan’s Award was created in 1986.

Kim Choon-jin, technical assistant manager in utilities administration; Kim Geum-man, technical manager in engine assembly and test engineering; and Heu Tae-young, technical assistant in material research, were presented with this year’s award along with 20 million won in prize money and the title of “master artisan.”

Conferred by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, the Korea Master Artisan’s Award is presented to fewer than 35 Korean masters every year.

Selected from 96 state-designated professions in 22 technical sectors, the candidates are required to have at least 15 years of experience in their vocation and submit recommendations from high-ranking government officials, such as metropolitan city mayors and provincial governors.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)