MIRECO to Be Revamped
with New Corporate Identity

Strives to make a leap forward with the revision of the relevant law

Mine Reclamation Corp. (MIRECO) is to be revamped soon as the National Assembly has passed the amendment bill of the act concerning damages caused by mines and their restoration this past February.
Raw materials prices have been skyrocketing, heightening concerns over bids by many countries seeking to secure mineral resources. However, worry over environmental contamination incurred by the development of mineral resources remains flat. MIRECO is an institution charged with preventing environmental damage caused by underground subsidence, flows of polluted water and mineral resources residuals that occur in the process of mine development. Despite the current situation, MIRECO will be reborn as an environmental watchdog in the mining areas, with a change of the Korean name of the corporation from "Gwanghaebangjisaeopdan"to "Gangukgwanghaebangjigongdan,"a name designed to indicate sustainable development so that the general public will better understand its functions and not mistake MIRECO as a transient body.
The revision now stipulates a new clause that may commission research and development projects on the prevention of mining-related environmental damage to academic and research circles in addition to the specialized mining-specific institutions, which currently are the primary recipients of such projects. This is expected to further prod the development of new technologies by opening to the outside the research and development area that was once confined to the responsibility of mine damage prevention institutions.
Under the amendment, new mine proprietors should take over the responsibilities of the prevention of mine damage from their predecessors.
The revision makes it obligatory for the mine damage prevention committee to be established under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (currently the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy) in order to deliberate on issues related to the prevention of mining-related damage. It also stipulates that executives of MIRECO shall be appointed according to the act on the operation of public organizations, but at least two of the directors should be environmental experts.
MIRECO CEO Choi Jong-soo said, "MIRECO's new Korean name, "Hangukgwanghaebangjigongdan"will give a more friendly impression to the general public as well as those in the relevant fields, thus enhancing its standing as an environment-friendly entity."MIRECO said it plans to accelerate the innovation of its stems and processes it has been pursuing with a goal of making a second take-off. In particular, MIRECO strives to continue to have each team make one innovation to ensure successful innovation management, while trying to upgrade its step-by-step process innovation and file management systems under such mechanisms as the ISO9001 and the ISO14001.
MIRECO plans to make the year 2008 the starting point of a drive to lay a solid foundation to evolve it into a world-class specialized institution with continued research and development.
CEO Choi said his corporation will pull out all the stops to focus on the development of applied technologies designed to solve complaints and grievances in the field, promote exchanges with advanced countries, attend international conferences and aggressively explore opportunities to advance into the foreign market in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
On June 1, 2006, MIRECO was inaugurated to take charge of sustainable mine development with Choi, a former administrator of the Korea Forest Service, taking the helm.
MIRECO was established in accordance with legislation governing the prevention and restoration of damage caused by mines in a bid to integrate the related jobs that had been spread out to several government agencies as well as to 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 the Coal Industry Promotion Board. It is responsible for overseeing the jobs related to the prevention of damage caused by mines arising from the early stage of mine development all the way through their closure.
Specifically, MIRECO assumes such responsibilities as the installation and operation of equipment designed to prevent damage caused by mines, R&D and training on mine damage and international collaboration projects on mining-related damage.
MIRECO, staffed with expert manpower, serves as a responsible, specialized institution designed not only to prevent substandard construction, but also to promote the development of technology aimed at preventing mine damage. Projects designed to prevent mine damage are being undertaken with a national view and continuous management of closed mines ensures improved environmental conditions of mining areas, the health of residents and pleasant settlement buildup.
MIRECO strives to help the mining industry maintain sustainable development in order to ensure a stable supply of coal, one of Korea's industrial raw materials, by wiping out its reputation as the "culprit of environmental pollution."A graduate of Seoul National University Environment Graduate School, Choi started his government career with 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

(left photo) MIRECO President and CEO Choi Jong-soo. (above photo) The once-abandoned mine in Samcheok, Gangwon Province (below photo) is transformed into a new refreshing shape ― the Black Valley Country Club (above photo).