Deputy Minister Chong Yang-ho of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, MIRECO President Kim Ik-hwan, and other dignitaries participate in a ceremony for Mire Reclamation Corp. to officially move into its newly built headquarters in the innovative city of Wonju on Sept. 1. (Photo:MIRECO)

Mine Reclamation Corp. (MIRECO) held a ceremony to officially move into its newly-built headquarters in the innovative city of Wonju on Sept. 1.

Among some 300 people on hand at the event were Deputy Minister Chong Yang-ho of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, MIRECO President Kim Ik-hwan, Wonju Vice Gov. Gangwon-do Vice Gov. Maeng Sung-j-kyu, Rep. Kim Ki-sun, Rep. Lee Kang-hoo, and Wonju Mayor Won Chang-muk. 

MIRECO President, in his speech, said, “MIRECO’s role as a semi-government agency charged with restoring environmental damages, caused by the development of mines, is in keeping with Wonju’s conception of pursing health of the city, and we’ll devote ourselves to making MIRECO part of Gangwon-do and Wonju City.”

“We’ll spearhead the development of the region by implementing the MIRECO Scholarship supporting students of the region from poor families, a volunteering service program to social welfare facilities, and purchasing locally produced agricultural products, contributing to making Wonju the best one of the nation’s 10 innovative cities,” he added. 

The new MIRECO building has 10 floors and one basement floor. The first to third floors are used for MIRECO employees’ amenities, including restaurants and a fitness center, and the fourth to 10th floors are reserved for MIRECO’s office space. The new structure is recognized as an eco-friendly structure, achieving a 1st-class energy efficiency rating using and new and renewable energy. There are basketball courts and a soccer field, and other parts of MIRECO’s facilities that will be opened to neighborhood residents. 

MIRECO Committed to Living Up to Public Expectations by Focusing on Integrity

The new vision Mine Reclamation Corp. (MIRECO) unveiled this year is “Creation of Values in Mine Areas.”

Living up to the new mission, MIRECO is committed to focusing on restoring environmental damage which the development of mines has brought, and reinvigorating the sluggish economy, caused by the shutting down of mines.

To this end, MIRECO has established six strategic goals: the establishment of a cooperative merit-based environment; implementation of complete projects to prevent mine damages; implementation of projects to promote self-sufficiency districts; providing support to ensure a stable supply of coal; and the development of leading technologies designed to prevent mine damages.

MIRECO accomplished the government’s 2014 task of getting rid of lax management. The corporation plans to proactively cope with the government’s second-phase to normalize public entities this year. In particular, MIRECO attaches priority to ensuring integrity. The corporation is getting tough with graft by taking steps to prevent collusion with businesses, including restricting retired MIRECO executives’ finding jobs at specialized concerns, canceling contracts and banning tenders with businesses found to give bribes and gifts. In-house whistle-blowers will be protected, while those involved in graft will be punished severely. Covert surveillance will be conducted to preempt corruption.

MIRECO President Kim said, “We’ll devote ourselves to realizing the new vision and making MIRECO a corporation trusted by people by proactively joining the government’s efforts to normalize public entities.”

Invitational Program for Experts from Foreign Coal Producers

MIRECO hosted an invitational program designed to train 22 experts from five coal producers Indonesia, India, Myanmar, Vietnam and Malaysia from March 2 to March 15.

Eight public entities and companies joined MIRECO in hosting the program, which was part of the so-called INFOCIA Project designed to form overseas networks of facilitating the development of the coal industry.

The program included the introduction of the Korean coal industry, and on-the-job lectures designed to strengthen trainees’ site working-level work expertise and experiences.

“The establishment of human network with foreign coal producers is designed not only to secure a stable supply of coal, but also to give a helping hand to Korean coal companies wanting to make inroads into foreign countries,” aid Kim Bong-seop, head of MIRECO’s overseas cooperation division.

MIRECO was established in accordance with legislation governing the prevention and restoration of damage caused by mines in a bid to integrate the related jobs that had been spread out to several government agencies as well as to implement relevant projects in a systematic and efficient manner.

Specifically, MIRECO assumes such responsibilities as the installation and operation of equipment designed to prevent damage caused by mines, R&D and training on mine damage and international collaboration projects on mining-related damage.