[The 44th National Productivity Conference] "Overcoming the COVID Crisis through Digital Productivity Innovation"

Chairman Donghee Lee Dongho Awarded Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit Among 22 Meritorious Persons, 51 Companies, and 12 Teams

On the 25th, at the 44th National Productivity Conference held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, Chairman Noh Gyu-seong is delivering the opening address.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] "Digital Productivity Innovation, the Vaccine to Overcome the COVID-19 Economic Crisis" is the slogan of this year's National Productivity Conference, hosted by the Korea Productivity Center and organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It aims to encourage industry professionals to turn the crisis caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has swept across all sectors of the economy, into an opportunity for productivity innovation. Although the number of attendees was reduced to fewer than 50 this year from about 900 last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the event gained significance by selecting companies and contributors who led digital productivity innovation and overcame the COVID-19 crisis through mutual growth.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Sung Yun-mo) and the Korea Productivity Center held the "National Productivity Conference" on the 25th at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Now in its 44th year, the Productivity Conference is the most prestigious event in the field of productivity in Korea, promoting the importance of productivity innovation, which is key to strengthening national competitiveness, and recognizing leading companies and contributors in productivity.

The conference was attended by Kang Kyung-sung, Director-General of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Noh Kyu-sung, Chairman of the Korea Productivity Center; Jeong Gap-young, former president of Yonsei University; as well as representatives from award-winning companies and industry executives. For those unable to attend due to COVID-19, the event was simultaneously broadcast on the Korea Productivity Center’s YouTube channel.

At this year’s conference, Donghee Chairman Lee Dong-ho received the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, and Samhan Siwon Chairman Han Sam-hwa received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, among 22 honorees, 51 companies, and 12 teams awarded. Chairman Lee Dong-ho, awarded the Gold Tower Order, has been in the automotive industry for 48 years and is recognized for successfully localizing automotive parts that were previously dependent on Japanese imports, achieving both job creation and the development of the automotive industry. Chairman Han Sam-hwa, awarded the Silver Tower Order, has worked in the brick industry for 42 years, contributing to the industry’s advancement by establishing a cutting-edge automated production system through continuous R&D and an investment of 45 billion KRW, successfully producing world-class quality bricks through smartization.

One notable feature of this year’s conference was the introduction of awards for future unicorn companies to encourage startups contributing to the creation of new industries and productivity improvement through digital innovation. In this category, Jison, which pioneered the wireless hacking defense market, received the Presidential Citation, while Orbis, Intelivix, Etasola, and others received the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Citation, gaining recognition as promising future unicorn companies.

Additionally, Shinhan Card attracted attention by receiving the Presidential Citation for leading the paradigm shift in the payment market with Korea’s first facial recognition payment and ultrasonic touch payment, and supporting online sales channels for small business owners struggling due to COVID-19. Kookmin Bank, which secured the stability of non-face-to-face transactions through proactive investment in cloud infrastructure, and Mothers Pharmaceutical, which supported local COVID-19 quarantine products, were also recognized for their outstanding contributions under the key themes of this year’s awards: "digital productivity innovation" and "overcoming the COVID-19 crisis through mutual growth."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun expressed gratitude in a video congratulatory message to the award-winning organizations and individual contributors who enhanced productivity through continuous challenge and innovation and contributed to national economic development. He pledged that the government, industry, and citizens would unite to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and create new opportunities, emphasizing overcoming the COVID-19 economic crisis through digital productivity innovation. Prime Minister Chung stated, "For the success of the Digital New Deal, a core pillar of the Korean New Deal, productivity innovation through digital transformation is crucial. We will boldly innovate industrial structures, strengthen the competitiveness of the industrial ecosystem, vigorously promote digital transformation, and focus support on the development of four essential core parts and equipment necessary for digital transformation."