Kwak Young-gil, chairman of Aju Economic Daily, addressed the challenges facing the construction industry during the 18th Aju Economic Daily Construction Awards held on October 21. He emphasized the need for the media to play a larger role in the industry's recovery and competitiveness enhancement.
Kwak stated, "The construction industry in South Korea is going through a very difficult period. Economic downturns, rising construction costs, uncertainties in the real estate project financing market, and various regulatory and policy constraints are exacerbating the challenges faced by the construction sector."
He further asserted, "The construction industry is a core foundational industry that must not be stifled. It is responsible for housing, fulfilling human needs, creating culture, and laying the groundwork for the national economy."
Kwak also highlighted the media's role, saying, "To ensure the healthy recovery and sustainable development of the construction industry, we will fulfill our media responsibilities more diligently. We will activate policy forums in collaboration with the National Assembly and propose reasonable policy alternatives that reflect the voices from construction sites, while actively advocating for improvements to unreasonable regulations and policies that enhance industry competitiveness."
He added, "We will not merely report on the industry's difficulties but will strive to be a constructive media outlet that illuminates the future of South Korea's construction industry."
Looking ahead, he pointed to artificial intelligence (AI) and eco-friendly digital technologies as the future direction for the construction industry. Kwak remarked, "The future construction industry must prepare for a new era. We need to enhance productivity through AI, physical AI, eco-friendly technologies, and digital innovations, creating a new era of construction where humans, culture, and nature coexist harmoniously."
Kwak concluded by stating that the Aju Economic Daily Construction Awards, now in its 18th year, serves to encourage the challenges and achievements of companies that are implementing these changes and innovations. He expressed hope that the hard work and passion of the award-winning companies and construction professionals would become a new hope for South Korea's construction industry.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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