Domestic Cement Industry Faces Crisis... Will Closely Cooperate with Government and Academia

The 52nd Cement Symposium Held
Two-Day Event on July 16-17
Over 360 Domestic Cement Industry Professionals in Attendance

The Korea Cement Association announced on July 16 that it held the 52nd Cement Symposium, an event where cement industry professionals from across the country gathered to share the latest trends and pool their wisdom to address current issues.

Processed waste (recyclable resources) is piled up in the recyclable resource storage. Korea Cement Association

This event was held over two days until July 17 at the Oak Valley Resort Hills Village in Wonju, Gangwon Province. More than 360 domestic and international cement industry experts attended, including Choi Jonghun, section chief of Gangwon Province, Hwang Haejin, president of the Korean Ceramic Society, as well as representatives from the Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology and the Korea Limestone New Materials Research Institute.

The domestic cement industry shared strategies for sustainable industrial development. There were special lectures by three industry representatives, including "Current Status of Research and Development for Carbon Neutrality in the Cement Industry" by Ssangyong C&E, and "SCR Facility Installation and Operation Plan in the Cement Industry" by Asia Cement. There were also lectures by external experts, such as "Health Impact Assessment of Cement Plant Workers and Primary Care Physician Program for Employees" by Kim Dongil, president of the Korea Health Diagnosis Institutions Association, and "Recent Climate Change Policies and Major Countries' Carbon-Related Trade Regulation Trends" by Kim Jinhyo, attorney at Bae, Kim & Lee LLC. In addition, there were presentations of a total of 19 research papers, followed by active Q&A sessions.

Notably, this year's symposium featured Professor Bae Sungcheol of Hanyang University, who introduced the industry-academia project "Eco-Friendly Cement Professional Training Program" aimed at discovering and nurturing future talent in cement-related fields and maintaining the industry's competitiveness. The presentation of nine research papers by teams from Gongju National University, Pusan National University, and Hanyang University further heightened industry expectations for the project.

In his congratulatory remarks, Jeon Geunsik, president of the Korea Cement Association, stated, "The domestic cement industry has long been a key foundational industry contributing to the development of national infrastructure. However, as we enter 2025, we are facing a decline in demand due to the prolonged slump in the construction market, as well as complex and structural challenges." He emphasized, "The special lectures and sessions at this symposium, focusing on current issues such as the introduction of SCR facilities and the revision of the mixed cement KS standard, will contribute to the transition to carbon neutrality and adaptation to regulatory changes. The Korea Cement Association will continue to work closely with the government, academia, and industry to establish a sustainable industrial ecosystem."

Kim Euicheol, director of the Korea Cement Association and organizer of the symposium, said, "With the theme of 'Technology Development and Institutional Improvement for Carbon Neutrality Strategies,' this event will serve as a meaningful opportunity to redefine the direction of our industry. We will continue to foster communication and cooperation, focusing on achieving significant results such as carbon neutrality and minimizing environmental impact in manufacturing processes."