MIRECO Marks 1st 'Mine
Damage Prevention Day'

Celebrates the first anniversary of an act governing the prevention of mine damage

Mine Reclamation Corp. (MIRECO) held a "Mine Damage Prevention Day"ceremony on May 31 to celebrate the first anniversary placing into effect an act governing the prevention and restoration of damages caused by mines and promotes public awareness toward the significance of preventing damages caused by mines.
In attendance at the anniversary ceremony held at the Seoul Plaza Hotel Grand Ballroom at 11 a.m. were about 1000 government officials and people in the mine-related companies, including Vice Minister for Energy Lee Jae-hoon, MIRECO CEO Choi Jong-soo and Korea Coal Association Chairman Ahn Jong-beom.
MIRECO organized a nationwide marathon competition designed to publicize public awareness toward the prevention of damages caused by mines on June 3. MIRECO CEO Choi said his corporation will continue to conduct activities to narrow the gap between MIRECO and the public by publicizing MIRECO's purpose of preventing mine damages in an efficient manner and providing support to the coal industry.
On June 1, 2006, MIRECO was inaugurated to take charge of sustainable mine development with Choi Jong-soo, former administrator of Korea Forest Service, taking the helm.
MIRECO was established in accordance with legislation of an act governing the prevention and restoration of damages caused by mines in a bid to integrate the jobs related to the prevention of damages from mines that had been spread to several government agencies and implement relevant projects in a systematic and efficient manner.
MIRECO is composed of three headquarters, a technology research center and five regional headquarters. The corporation has taken over the jobs carried out by Coal Industry Promotion Board. It is responsible for overseeing the jobs related to the prevention of damages caused by mines arising from the early stage of developing mines until their closure.
Specifically, MIRECO assumes such responsibilities as the installment and operation of equipment designed to prevent damages caused by mines, R&D and training on mine damages and international collaboration projects on mine damages.
MIRECO, manned with expertise manpower, serves as a responsible, specialized institution designed not only to prevent substandard construction, but only to promote the development of the technology aimed at preventing mine damage. Projects designed to prevent mine damage are being undertaken under national aspects and continuous management of closed mines makes sure improved environmental conditions of mining areas, health of residents and pleasant settlement buildup.
MIRECO strives to help the mining industry maintain a sustainable development in order to ensure a stable supply of coal, one of Korea's industrial raw materials, by wiping out its disgraced recognition of the "culprit of environmental pollution."A graduate of Seoul National University Environment Graduate School, MIRECO President Choi started his government career from the Korea Forest Service after passing the 11th higher administrative examination. He climbed up the officialdom hierarchy to become KFS administrator after many years of hard work and determination. nw

(from top photo) Prominent figures, including Vice Minister for Energy Lee Jae-hoon, MIRECO CEO Choi Jong-soo and Korea Coal Association Chairman Ahn Jong-beom attend a Mine Damage Prevention Day anniversary ceremony. Vice Minister Lee presents a citation to an award winner during the anniversary ceremony.