The paper industry is facing many challenges internally. Among them, finding sustainable growth drivers for the industry is of utmost importance.
Lee Bok-jin, the chairman of the Korea Paper Industry Association (Taelim Packaging), noted during the '2025 New Year’s meeting' held at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 9th, that "It is difficult to be optimistic about the economy in 2025 due to concerns over declining exports from sluggish domestic demand and global economic slowdown."
He said, "The political risks that emerged at the end of last year and the changes in the global trade environment due to the launch of the second term of the Trump administration are further exacerbating this uncertainty."
He emphasized the need for collective efforts to transform crises into opportunities by actively pursuing the expansion of eco-friendly alternatives such as "paper packaging materials," securing cost competitiveness through innovation in manufacturing processes, improving the export environment by diversifying markets and responding proactively to import regulations, and expanding policy support while establishing a foundation for coexistence and mutual prosperity with upstream and downstream industries.
More than 100 people attended the event, including Choi Byung-min, chairman of Clean World, Jeong Yeon-su, vice chairman of Ajin P&P, Kim Gil-soo, president of Han Chang Paper, Kwon Yook-sang, president of Paper Korea, Yu Seung-hwan, president of Asia Paper, Lee Sang-cheon, president of Shin Daeyang Paper, and Jeong Dong-ha, representative of Jeonju Paper. Notable attendees included Lee Do-kyun, president of Murim Group, Choi Hyun-soo, representative of Clean World, and Han Kyung-rok, president of Hansol Paper.