Choi Jae-rak, chairman of Sewang Textile, will receive the Gold Tower Industrial Medal for his contributions to the development of Korea's textile fashion industry.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Textile Industry Association will hold the 40th Textile Day ceremony on November 11 at the Textile Center in Daechi-dong, Seoul. Textile Day commemorates the achievement of $10 billion in exports by the domestic textile industry, the first single industry to reach this milestone in November 1987.
This year's event will feature a fashion show showcasing traditional hanbok and a media performance, highlighting the evolution of the textile industry from silk to modern K-fashion. A total of 49 government awards will be presented to individuals who have contributed to industrial development, including one Gold Tower Industrial Medal, one Silver Tower Industrial Medal, one Industrial Merit Medal, three Presidential Citations, three Prime Minister's Citations, and 40 Ministerial Citations.
The prestigious Gold Tower Industrial Medal will be awarded to Choi Jae-rak. He has been recognized for his nearly 40 years in the textile industry, particularly for his efforts in producing eco-friendly, high-quality knit fabrics and engaging in social contribution activities. Recently, Sewang Textile was also named a 'root company of excellence' in the surface treatment sector.
Park Jae-yong, president of Youngone Corporation, will receive the Silver Tower Industrial Medal for his 33 years of expertise in textile engineering, leading the domestic textile industry's transition to eco-friendly practices and the development of industrial textiles.
The Ministry has previously announced plans to unveil a 'Textile Fashion Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Strategy' in 2024, focusing on securing key technologies for advanced industrial textiles used in automotive airbags and aerospace, as well as supporting the development of eco-friendly textiles. Improving productivity in the textile fashion industry through AI-based demand forecasting and shortened design periods has also been highlighted as a key initiative.
The government aims to enhance the competitiveness of the textile industry by shifting away from a clothing-centric structure to focus on advanced industrial materials and eco-friendly products.
Lee Min-woo, director of the Ministry's Industrial Growth Office, stated, "The textile fashion industry is the root of our economic growth and a crucial sector that determines the competitiveness of advanced industries such as automotive, defense, aerospace, and energy. The government will actively support the cultivation of advanced industrial textiles, stabilize the supply chain through strengthening domestic manufacturing, and expand the global reach of K-textiles and fashion to open new paths for growth."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.