New President Kim Jin-sook of Korea Express Corp. (KEC).

Former administrator Kim Jin-sook of the National Agency for Administrative City Construction (NAACC) took office as president of Korea Express Corp. (KEC) on April 4.

Kim is the first female KEC president in its 51-year history. Her term is three years, and she may be reelected for another year, based on his management outcomes.

Upon receiving her letter of appointment, Kim started off her term by lending an ear to shop operators and workers at the Icheon Rest Area, who are struggling with the economic fallout of the spread of COVID-19. She toured the area instead of holding an inauguration, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.

In her inaugural message posted to KEC’s intranet, Kim stressed the importance of change and innovation on the part of KEC’s rank and file. She unveiled major tasks designed to pave the way to the opening up of a sustainable future, on top of offering fast and safe transportation services.

First, President Kim called for the improvement of old infrastructure and the establishment of a road operation regime focusing on safety by overhauling steps tailored to prevent dozing off while at the wheel.

Second, she asked to accelerate efforts to secure future growth engines by expanding smart R&D investments and creating innovative business models and realizing social values and public interests through quality job creation and the restructuring rational toll charging regime.

 
President Kim also pledged to make KEC a public entity, beloved and trusted by people based on fairness, neutrality, responsibility and transparency by proactively responding to changes and crises, and establishing a flexible and efficient management system.

As the nation is reeling from a national crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19, she said KEC will focus on entering an emergency management regime early on, reviewing disinfection steps into expressway facilities, providing support to small businesses and SMEs at rest areas, boost domestic demand and reinvigorating local economies.

Kim started her career at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) after passing a higher technology examination in 1988. She held key MOLIT posts such as director-general in charge of technology and safety, chief of Seoul District Land Management Office, and NAACC president.

She has been appreciated for her experience and capabilities in wide areas, such as road safety, as well as technology and architecture.

In particular, while serving as NAACC president, she was praised for carrying out leading projects related to technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, like designating the administrative city as a “smart pilot city.” Another time she designated a special area where restrictions were lifted to verify the nation’s first self-driving course.

While serving as KEC president, Kim is expected to help the corporation establish an advanced smart expressway network and present a new vision for future innovative growth.

President Kim Jin-sook of Korea Express Corp. lends an ear to voices of shop operators and workers at the Icheon Rest Area who are struggling with economic fallout, caused by the spread of COVID-19.

KEC, Major Entity for Developing Smart Construction Tech

KEC has been designated as an entity to develop digital platform and digital twin management technologies and comprehensive testbed operability.

The corporation will be responsible for the development of detailed tasks under the guidance: “smart construction technology development project through road test-bed.” KEC will be charged with the implementation of the two tasks, each in cooperation with Sungkyunkwan University and Hanmac.

As a result, technology application and verification will be conducted via 106 expressways, now managed by the corporation.

The involved expressways stand at 6,567 km in combined length. Now that ICT infrastructure for the operation of digital platform for smart construction technology has been built up, chances are high that materialization and commercialization of smart construction technologies will be done.