Ulsan to Boost Forestry Industry and Create Jobs

Ulsan City to Hold 'Forest Industry Promotion and Job Creation Seminar' on the 8th

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Ulsan City will hold a "Forest Industry Promotion and Job Creation Seminar" at 2 p.m. on the 8th in the Citizens' Hall on the first floor of the City Hall, attended by about 150 people including Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho, the Korea Forest Service, forest owners, and representatives from forest industry-related companies and organizations.

This seminar was organized with the purpose of reexamining the value of Ulsan's forests, nurtured since the 1974 Han-Dok Forest Management pilot project, and exploring ways to revitalize the forest industry and create jobs by utilizing forests that have reached maturity at 40 to 50 years of age.

Im Mira, Director of Forest Industry Policy at the Korea Forest Service, will give the first keynote presentation on "Korea Forest Service's Forest Industry and Job Policies."

Professor Kim Ui-kyung of the Department of Forest Environment Resources at Gyeongsang National University will present on "Regional Economic Revitalization and Job Expansion through Private Forest Management Activation," followed by Han Sae-rom, Secretary General of Baeknyeon Forest Social Cooperative, presenting on "Regional Forest Management and Job Creation Strategies through Public-Private Governance Projects."

Professor Kim Seok-taek of Ulsan University will moderate the designated discussion and Q&A session.

Participants in the discussion include Kim Jong-won, former Chairman of the Korea Federation of Wood Industry Associations (Vice President of Poonglim), Woo Jong-ho, President of the Korea Forest Technology Society, Lee Dong-go, Secretary General of Ulsan Life Forest, and Lee Ki-hyun, Director of the Korea Soho Promotion Association.

An official from Ulsan City stated, "Through this seminar, we plan to establish a public-private-academic joint forest governance for Ulsan's forest industry and forest job creation, and to create a new private forest management model that generates jobs and profits for the first time nationwide."