61st Construction Day

Construction Industry Looks to Make a Leap toward Centennial

Those in the Korean construction industry, celebrating the 61st anniversary of Construction Day on June 18, pledged to march toward the centennial and realize the dreams of Koreans and people across the globe.
About 1,300 people, including government officials and businesspeople from construction-related organizations and industries attended the anniversary event held at the Construction Hall in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. They included Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Chung Jong-whan, and Public Procurement Service Administrator Chang Soo-man.
During the anniversary event, 150 E&C CEOs and construction-related officials and organization representatives were awarded with orders, medals and other prizes in recognition of their contributions to the development of the construction industry.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction President & CEO Lee Jong-soo and Doosan Engineering & Construction President & CEO Kim Ki-dong were awarded with the Order of Industrial Merit, Gold Tower.
Lee has been credited with spearheading projects for balanced national development and mega-state projects. In particular, he was praised for exploring the overseas construction market as he played leading roles in becoming the first Korean contractor in the Korean construction industry to post $50 billion in the aggregate value of the projects the company landed as of 2006.
Kim was acclaimed for advancing construction technology and contributing to the development of the construction industry by further evolving construction technology expertise he has studied and acquired while he has been with the construction industry for more than 32 years.
The Order of Industrial Merit, Silver Tower went to Whaseung Co. CEO Baek Bok-gi and Fine Mecon Co. CEO Woo Kwang Hyeon, while Handong Construction President and CEO Shin Hang-cheol received the Order of Industrial Merit, Bronze Tower. Chungsuk Engineering Co. CEO Chung Hee-yong and two others, including Kwanghyuck CEO Shin Hyun-gak,
were presented with the Order of Industrial Merit, Stone Tower. Namkwang was presented with the presidential award in the group category.
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said in his congratulatory message,"The government will become the biggest supporter to create an environment suitable for those in the construction industry to do their best, and I urge you to strive to raise the construction industry to global standards, strengthen a competitive edge and create a new culture for raising the value of our territory."Kwon Hong-sa, chairman of the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Societies said in his commemorative speech, "We need to make a transparent and rational construction culture on the occasion of the first year of a drive to raising management to global standards and pursue management innovation by continuously concentrating technology development and fostering gifted manpower."He also urged the government to implement business-friendly policies designed to help the construction industry maintain overall growth.
During the anniversary event, a publicity video, titled "Dream-building Construction,"was broadcast with messages from those in the construction industry who pledged their determination to march toward the centennial and realize dreams of Koreans and people across the globe. nw

(left) Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and Kwon Hong-sa, chairman of the Korean Federation of Construction Industry Societies

VIPs, including Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, Minister of Land, Construction and Maritime Affairs Chung Jong-whan, HDEC CEO Lee Jong-soo and Doosan E&C CEO Kim Ki-dong, attend the Construction Day anniversary event.