The Korea Chemical Industry Association held a ceremony marking the 17th Chemical Industry Day at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 31st.
Shin Hak-Cheol, president of the Korea Chemical Industry Association (vice chairman of LG CHEM), said in a commemorative address, "As difficult conditions at home and abroad persist, the chemical industry is pushing business restructuring to turn crisis into opportunity and will do its best to restore competitiveness," and added, "We ask the government to sincerely evaluate the business restructuring plan that our chemical industry devised together and to prepare support measures such as finance, tax, research and development (R&D) support, and regulatory easing."
Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, "Speed and timing are crucial in business restructuring," adding, "The government will back it by preparing a support package including finance, tax, regulatory improvements, and R&D so that restructuring can be completed with a sense of speed." He went on, "To secure the petrochemical industry's fundamental competitiveness, we will soon announce a 'petrochemical industry R&D roadmap,'" and said, "We will focus support on developing future core technologies for high value-added and eco-friendly transition."
At this year's event, Baek Jong-hun, president of Kumho Petrochemical, received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit for contributions to the development of the chemical industry and the national economy. The Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit went to Kim Han-seok, head of the SK Chemicals research institute, and the Industrial Service Medal went to Yeom Hyeong-seok, head of the PO Division at Hanwha Solutions.
The presidential commendation went to Park Jin-man, Deputy Minister at the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (KICOX), and the prime minister's commendation went to four people: Kim Gi-yeon, principal researcher at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT); Yang Seong-yun, professor at Chungnam National University; Eom Mun-ho, Head of Team at GS Caltex; and Park Jang-u, CEO of Advanced Nano Products.
Thirty-four people, including Kang Young-jong, professor at Hanyang University; Kwon Kang-il, senior executive director at Hanwha TotalEnergies; Kim Bong-su, professor at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST); and Kim Seok-jun, PM at SK Innovation, received ministerial commendations.