[Interview] Hankyungwon, Chairman of the Geochang Stone Association: "At a Crucial Crossroads That Will Decide the Next 10 Years"

Geochang Stone Industry Faces Complex Crisis
Labor Shortages, Rising Costs, and Administrative Conflicts

As the stone industry in Geochang County, South Gyeongsang Province faces a complex crisis due to labor shortages, rising costs, and administrative conflicts, Hankyungwon, Chairman of the Geochang Stone Association, emphasized, "Now is a turning point that will determine the next ten years," adding, "We need a mutually beneficial structure where businesses, local government, and the community move forward together."

Hankyungwon, Chairman of Geochang Stone Material Cooperative.

In an interview with Chairman Han, we heard about the current state of the stone industry and possible solutions. The nationwide stone market itself is shrinking. In particular, as the volume of private construction projects decreases, the burden on companies has increased.

Geochang granite still maintains a competitive edge in terms of quality. However, as the workforce ages and quarrying and processing costs rise, production costs have increased, causing a rapid decline in profitability for companies.

Additionally, there is almost no influx of younger workers. The quarrying and processing sites are high-risk environments, making them particularly unattractive to younger generations. Companies are highly dependent on foreign workers, but even securing such labor this year has not been easy. Realistically, there is a need for government-level training programs for skilled workers and an expansion in the allocation of experienced foreign personnel.

From the perspective of the Geochang Stone Association, there are situations where legal judgment is unavoidable for survival. However, a structure in which quarries and the county office are in legal disputes is by no means desirable. Ultimately, the damage is borne by local businesses and residents. Going forward, it is essential to establish a system where Geochang County and the association coordinate in advance and to have institutional mechanisms in place to prevent conflicts.

Our association is continuously making improvements with the goal of "pursuing eco-friendly certification that the local community can trust," such as enhancing eco-friendly dust reduction facilities and strengthening safety inspections.

The future direction for the Geochang stone industry includes: ▲ standardizing and upgrading quality, which is the greatest strength of Geochang stone; ▲ introducing vocational education models for workforce supply and improving the foreign labor system; ▲ ensuring sustainability recognized by the community through the introduction of carbon-reducing equipment and low-noise processes; and ▲ establishing a cooperative system with local government.

Hankyungwon, Chairman of the Geochang Stone Association, explained, "The Geochang stone industry is in crisis, but at the same time, there are new opportunities. Based on the granite quality recognized nationwide, we have the capacity to lead new markets."

He also emphasized, "I will do my utmost to ensure that the association grows together with the community, that companies can produce stably, and that the industry earns the trust of local residents."