Korea marks 40 years of specialty construction with a focus on sustainable innovation for the next century
The Korea Specialty Construction Association (KSCA) marked its 40th anniversary by hosting a significant international seminar on April 26, co-organized with the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee. The event centered on the theme "The Value and Role of Specialty Construction for the Next 100 Years," reflecting on the past four decades and seeking to chart a sustainable and innovative future for Korea's construction sector.
The seminar was part of the KSCA's commemorative efforts and received joint sponsorship from the National Assembly's transport committee, with research support from the Korea Construction Policy Research Institute. It brought together a robust panel of domestic and international experts from academia and industry to discuss the vital contributions of specialty sustainability construction businesses and explore strategies for K-Construction.
Opening remarks by Maeng Sung-kyu, chair of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, highlighted the construction industry's journey through challenges and achievements over the last 40 years. He expressed hope that the seminar would foster consensus on redefining the specialty construction sector's role and create a supportive environment for the sustainable growth of K-Construction over the next century.
Themed “Beyond 100 years: Creating the Future of Specialty Construction,” the seminar featured four keynote presentations. Professor Kim Sung-dae from the University of Tennessee contributed insights on cooperative strategies among construction production stakeholders to achieve mutual development. Bruce Chong, Fellow and Director at ARUP Hong Kong, introduced approaches focused on climate resilience, decarbonisation, and smart infrastructure adaptation. Japan's Professor Kanisawa Hirotake from Shibaura Institute of Technology shared competitive construction production systems used in Japan. Additionally, Lee Ho-il, deputy researcher at the Korea Construction Policy Research Institute, outlined the specialty construction sector's contributions and future vision.
Following the presentations, an expert panel discussion moderated by Professor Kim Han-soo of Sejong University convened specialists from the US, UK, Japan, and South Korea representing academia, industry, and research bodies. They exchanged international data and case studies, converging on the consensus that sustainable development of the construction sector requires both proactive industry self-regulation and robust government partnership.
KSCA President Yoon Hak-soo stressed the critical necessity of building an industrial ecosystem where direct contracting specialty construction firms can fully perform their roles amid shifting demands for carbon neutrality and smart construction technologies. He emphasized the importance of high-quality, safe construction sites to sustain a construction industry that appeals to future generations and leads national and regional economic advancement. Yoon committed to working with research institutions to advance related policies and regulatory frameworks.
This seminar comes at a pivotal time for Korean construction as the sector faces pressing challenges regarding sustainability, digital transformation, and smart infrastructure integration. While the event highlighted global examples and cooperation, there remain ongoing debates over legislative frameworks, such as the stagnation surrounding modular housing laws in the National Assembly, which some experts argued could unlock innovative, efficient building methods but have languished without resolution.
Moreover, recent legislative momentum to foster the broader real estate services industry and generate quality jobs is also influencing the construction landscape. Government initiatives now aim to develop comprehensive plans for furthering real estate and construction services, with policy committees established to guide progress.
As Korea's construction industry looks towards its next century, professional associations like KSCA play a critical role in galvanizing stakeholders to foster sustainable growth, innovation, and international cooperation. By leveraging lessons from global leaders and domestic expertise, the industry aims to transform challenges into opportunities, supporting Korean construction's continued leadership in quality, technology, and environmental responsibility.