The 40th Korea National Quality Award Convention took place at the COEX Auditorium in southeastern Seoul on Nov. 19 to evaluate quality management practices of the industrial community and to renew their determination to ensure global quality management.
Hosted and organized by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards under the umbrella of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korean Standardization Association (KSA), the convention was attended by roughly 1,700 people, including Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, the chiefs of economic organizations, businesspeople, and prizewinners.
In his commemorative speech, Prime Minister Chung said the government will make strenuous efforts to foster a performance-oriented society in which those who have profound on-the-scene experience and technological power are given due treatment. He called for workers to redouble efforts to produce the world’s top products and make world-class companies.
“Quality standards goals are fault zero at an era of $20,000 per capita income, and if the nation tries to achieve the goal of raising the per capital income to $40,000, it will have to make it to world-class quality,” an MOTIE official said. “We expect the convention, marking the 40th anniversary this year, to serve as an opportunity to change Korea’s quality paradigm,” he added.
The KSA has organized the Korea National Quality Award Convention as an annual event since 1975 to award prizes to corporations or those who contributed to quality management and product innovation in a bid to awaken the significance of quality management and publicize it. In particular, the convention, which is one of the nation's major events along with Trade Day, is an extraordinary event in which employees and businesspeople mingle together in one place and renew their determination to contribute to national development.
A total of 452 people and organizations were presented with quality management awards. They included nine orders and government medals, 23 presidential awards and 15 prime minister’s prizes. In particular, six of the nine orders and government medals went to SMEs and mid-size super companies, demonstrating their active participation in promoting quality management and their capacity.
During the event, which was attended by top-rated quality management employees and businesspeople, the coveted Order of Industrial Merit, Gold Tower, went to Kim Jong-seok, chairman of Pyung Hwa Oil Seal Industry Co.
Chairman Kim Bo-kyun of Chemtronics and Hankook Tire Executive Director Song Kwon-ho were presented with the Service Merit Medal, Siver Tower, while President Jang Ki-bong of Master was honored with the Order of Industrial Service, Bronze Tower. Lotte Hotel & Lotte World President Lee Dong-woo was awarded with the Order of Industrial Service, Steel Tower while Park Chul-joo, head of KEPCO Nuclear Fuel Co. received the Order of Industrial Service, Tin Tower.
The Korean National Quality Award Grand Prize, the Presidential Award in the organization category went to Korea Midland Power Co. (KOMIPO) and Daehan Solution. Nine other companies received the presidential award. Samsung Electronics Home Appliance Division, Nexen Tire, K-water , and Kyung Chang were presented with the presidential award – the National Quality Management Award. Black Yak and six other companies were awarded with the presidential award – the National Quality Innovation Award.
Excellent quality circles, which have been playing leading roles behind economic development through diverse improvement activities, were also honored with prizes.
Two hundred and ninety-three excellent quality circles were presented with medals for excellent quality practices.
Twenty-six exemplary workers who have contributed to creating sound working conditions and engaged in quality management activities with excellent craftsmanship were honored with craft master’s awards.
_23 국품경.jpg)
