Deputy Minister for Industrial Policy Park Chung-won of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) called for the Korean chemical industry to tap future markets by strengthening technology capability through the development of challenging and innovative chemical substances and products, and building its own domain by expanding related facility investments.
While delivering his commemorative speech at a ceremony to celebrate the sixth Chemical Day, Park gave some words of encouragement to those within the Korean chemical industry for their achievements in helping the industry become a pivotal role in the development of the national economy.
MOTIE decided to speed up a joint project to develop a high-intensity, high-heat resistant, eco-friendly, advanced and futuristic plastic in for automobiles and other transportation means, which the public and private sectors are implementing.
The ministry said it plans to establish strategies to develop fine chemical segments such as paint, base, pigment, and surface active agent, and will spare no efforts to provide support to transform the chemical industry into a new growth engine for the realization of the creative economy.
Some 400 people from industry, academia and research circles were present at the event that took place at the 63 City in Yeouido, Seoul on Oct. 31. Other participants included Park, Pang Han-hong, chairman of the Korea Petrochemical Industry Association -- whom concurrently serves as president of Hanwha Chemical -- Samsung Total President Sohn Seok-won and Lotte Chemical President Huh Soo-young.
Thirty-one people were awarded for their contributions to the development of the Korean chemical industry.
The Order of Industrial Service Merit, Silver Tower went to Kumho Petrochemical Executive Vice President Han Dong-hwa for his role in commanding the global synthetic rubber market and the construction of a combined cycle plant using solid fuel of waste tires for the first time in Korea, contributing to the development of a regional economy.
Samsung BP Chemicals President Lee Dong-hwi was honored with the Order of Industrial Service Merit, Bronze Tower in recognition for his role in tapping export markets, such as the Middle East, Africa and South America, textile processing and the strengthening of the price competitiveness of acetic acid, the raw material of acetone.
Hanwha Chemical Managing Director Lim Ho-sang was awarded for the Industrial Service Medal for settling a world-class environment and safety culture and improving an industrial process. Silk Korea President Kim Ki-tae and Oh Joong-gul, a director of Chokwang Paint, each won the Presidential Award. Kim was praised for tapping foreign markets together with SMEs in the same industry, while Oh was credited with his contribution to the development of low-energy paints.
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